Image Processing Apparatus

ABSTRACT

There is described an image processing apparatus, which makes it possible not only to eliminate the deterioration of the perceptibility, but also to determine the pages being suitable for applying the predetermined image processing. The control section determines specific pages, being suitable for applying a predetermined image processing, based on the attributes detected by the detecting section, so as to apply the predetermined image processing to the specific pages. On the other hand, the control section applies image processing, including a variable power processing, to both the partial image area and the partial character area by employing different magnification factors, so as to generate a size-changed partial image area and a size-changed partial character area, and to arrange both of them into a predetermined imaginary area being smaller than an area of the original image, so as to accommodate them within the predetermined imaginary area.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Applications NO.2008-125259 and NO. 2008-130800, respectively filed on May 12 and 19,2008 with Japan Patent Office, the entire contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, andspecifically relates to an image processing apparatus provided with afunction for changing a size of an image, and an image processingapparatus provided with a function for applying image processing toimage data representing an image for every page.

Generally speaking, an image forming apparatus, such as a copier, aMulti-Functional Peripheral, etc., is provided with a variable powerfunction for changing a size of an original document, such as a documentimage, an image file, etc., so as to print the size-changed image on arecording medium. Further, most of the abovementioned image formingapparatus is generally provided with plural kinds of variable powerfunctions including, for instance, a magnification designated variablepower function for changing the variable power based on themagnification factor designated by the user, a fixed size variable powerfunction for setting a degree of the variable power based on the fixedsize designated by the user, etc. Still further, generally speaking, theabovementioned image forming apparatus is also provided with anintegration printing function, called the “N-in-1 printing”. Accordingto the integration printing function, sizes of images respectivelyincluded in plural pages (N pages) are reduced by applying the variablepower processing to the images concerned, so as to integrally print thereduced images onto a single page. Sometimes, this kind of theintegration printing function has bee used in the charged copy serviceby the user, in order to reduce a number of printing sheets so as tosave the copy charge.

On the other hand, with respect to reduction of the copy charge in thefield of the charged copy service, for instance, Tokkai 2000-4316(Japanese Non-Examined Laid-Open Patent Publication) sets forth atechnology for reducing a number of color printing operations so as tosave an amount of the copy charge. According to the abovementionedtechnology, only partial monochrome images extracted from a document,including plural pages in which the partial monochrome images andpartial color images are intermingled with each other, are printed onthe pages to be copied, prior to the partial color images after theoperations for reading the document images are completed, and then, thepartial color images are allotted onto the pages so as to print thepartial color images as a whole, thereafter. Further, Tokkai 2006-85103(Japanese Non-Examined Laid-Open Patent Publication) sets forth anothertechnology, which makes it possible to automatically select a set ofprint settings corresponding to a copy charge desired by the user, whenthe user inputs a desired amount of the copy charge in advance.

Further, as for the other function for changing an image size,well-known is such a function that a size of an area desired by the useris partially changed according to the operations conducted by the user,for instance, an editing function for enlarging or reducing the imagesize by touching the image area and/or the character area displayed onthe editing apparatus (editor) concerned, with a touch pen, etc.,directly by the user, etc.

However, according to the reduction variable power operation to beperformed in the conventional variable power function or theconventional integration printing function, the size of the whole imageconcerned is reduced at a constant variable magnification factorirrespective of a portion of either an image area or a character area.For instance, in the case of 2 in 1 printing, the image size for 1 pageis reduced to that of 0.7 times of the original (variable magnificationfactor; 70%, area ratio; 50%), while, in the case of 4 in 1 printing,the image size for 1 page is reduced to that of 0.5 times of theoriginal (variable magnification factor; 50%, area ratio; 25%).Accordingly, depending on the original sizes of each of the concernedimages and/or the variable magnification factor employed, sometimes, aphotographic image portion has specifically become difficult to berecognized, or conversely, characters have been hardly perceptible dueto the smudges of the characters, resulting in drastic deterioration ofthe perceptibility of them.

It has been impossible to overcome the abovementioned drawbacks in theconventional image processing apparatus, even if the technologies setforth in Tokkai 2000-4316 and Tokkai 2006-85103 (Japanese Non-ExaminedLaid-Open Patent Publications) are employed in the image processingapparatus. In addition, since the editing function, etc., provided inthe editing apparatus abovementioned, requires the user to performcomplicated operation, such the functions are not suitable for thegeneral purpose copiers or the multi-functional Peripheral, etc.,aforementioned.

On the other hand, in a copier, etc., which provides the chargedcopy-printing service, an amount of the charged fee is determinedcorresponding to the print settings inputted by the user. If the userwell recognizes the amount of the charged fee corresponding to the printsettings in advance, no problem would arise with respect to theabovementioned copier. However, when the user does not well recognize,it would possibly occur that the user repeatedly conducts the settingand changing operations until he is satisfied with the required copycharge and the print quality proposed by the copier concerned. Thisresults in a considerable burden for the user. To overcome theabovementioned drawback, some copiers make it possible for the user toinput the upper limit of money amount (desired charge amount), so that,when the actual amount of copy fee corresponding to the print settingsinputted by the user exceeds the upper limit of money amount, the amountof charged fee is suppressed by conducting a predetermined imageprocessing.

For instance, Tokkai 2007-43494 (Japanese Non-Examined PatentPublication) sets forth the technology including: retrieving an imageprocessing, which is implementable within a range of the upper limit ofmoney amount, from plural kinds of image processing, based on thedifference between the charged fee and the upper limit of money amount;when a suitable image processing can be retrieved, proposing its previewscreen and the amount of copy fee to be actually charged to the userconcerned; when the suitable image processing can not be retrieved,selecting a desired image processing by the user himself, or conductingan changing operation, such as selecting parameters of the concernedprocessing, etc., so as to suppress the amount of charged fee; andfurther, applying an image processing, which is such a processing thatlowers the printing density, reduces the image size, or the like,preferentially to an area being suitable for the processing (color area)or a partial image area, both residing within the range of theprocessing objective image area. Still further, when the user hasdesignated in advance a mode of giving priority to either the amount ofcharged fee or the image quality for every page, only the pages forwhich the mode of giving priority to the amount of charged fee isdesignated are made to be the object of the image processingabovementioned.

When the image processing is conducted for every partial area includedin the image concerned as mentioned in the above, the calculatingoperation of the charged fee becomes complicated, compared to such acase that the image processing is conducted for every page, etc.Further, layout positional relationships and/or contrasting densityrelationships within one page would be destroyed.

Further, when an image processing that makes the copy fee fall withinthe range of the upper limit of money amount, the image processing isapplied to all of the areas for which the concerned image processing issuitable, with respect to the whole document including plural pages. Forinstance, when the areas for which the concerned image processing issuitable exist over the all pages of the document, the concerned imageprocessing is applied to all of the pages. Accordingly, there has been afear that the concerned image processing is applied to the pages morethan necessary for the upper limit of money amount. In addition, inorder to select specific pages to be object for the image processing,the user should manually operate the copier, resulting in a complicationof the operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the abovementioned drawbacks in conventional imageprocessing apparatus, it is one of objects of the present invention toprovide an image processing apparatus, which makes it possible toeliminate the deterioration of the perceptibility in regard to a partialimage area or a partial character area without conducting complicatedoperations when reducing the size of the image.

Further, it is another one of objects of the present invention toprovide an image processing apparatus, which makes it possible todetermine the pages being suitable for applying the predetermined imageprocessing, while alleviating the burden to be incurred to the user.

Accordingly, at least one of the objects of the present invention can beattained by any one of the image processing apparatuses described asfollows.

-   (1) According to an image processing apparatus reflecting an aspect    of the present invention, the image processing apparatus comprises:    an image data acquiring section to acquire image data representing    an original image; a detecting section to detect a partial image    area and a partial character area, both of which are included in the    original image, based on the image data outputted by the image data    acquiring section; and a control section to apply image processing,    including a variable power processing, to both the partial image    area and the partial character area by employing a first variable    magnification factor and a second variable magnification factor,    which are different from each other, respectively, so as to generate    a size-changed partial image area and a size-changed partial    character area, and to arrange both the size-changed partial image    area and the size-changed partial character area into a    predetermined imaginary area being smaller than an area of the    original image, so as to accommodate them within the predetermined    imaginary area.-   (2) According to another aspect of the present invention, in the    image processing apparatus recited in item 1, the control section    applies the variable power processing to any one of the partial    image area and the partial character area by employing a    predetermined variable magnification factor so as to arrange the    size-changed one into the imaginary area, while applies the variable    power processing to another one of the partial image area and the    partial character area by employing such a specific variable    magnification factor that makes it possible to accommodate the other    size-changed one within a residual area remained in the imaginary    area.-   (3) According to still another aspect of the present invention, in    the image processing apparatus recited in item 1 or item 2, the    control section applies an integration print processing, included in    the image processing, to plural pages included in the original image    so as to integrate the plural pages into a single page; and the    control section applies the variable power processing, included in    the image processing, to both the partial image area and the partial    character area by employing the first variable magnification factor    and the second variable magnification factor, which are different    from each other, to arrange both the size-changed partial image area    and the size-changed partial character area into the predetermined    imaginary area being same as an area of the single page.-   (4) According to still another aspect of the present invention, in    the image processing apparatus recited in any one of items 1-3, the    first variable magnification factor to be employed for changing a    size of the partial image area is greater than the second variable    magnification factor to be employed for changing a size of the    partial character area.-   (5) According to still another aspect of the present invention, in    the image processing apparatus recited in any one of items 1-4, the    control section sets the first variable magnification factor at    100%.-   (6) According to still another aspect of the present invention, in    the image processing apparatus recited in any one of items 1-3, the    second variable magnification factor to be employed for changing a    size of the partial character area is greater than the first    variable magnification factor to be employed for changing a size of    the partial image area.-   (7) According to still another aspect of the present invention, in    the image processing apparatus recited in any one of items 1, 2, 3    and 6, the control section sets the second variable magnification    factor at 100%.-   (8) According to still another aspect of the present invention, in    the image processing apparatus recited in any one of items 1-7, in    the image processing, the control section divides the partial    character area into a plurality of character blocks, each of which    includes a plurality of consecutive characters, and then, applies    the variable power processing to each of the plurality of character    blocks so as to generate a plurality of size-changed character    blocks, and then, arranges the plurality of size-changed character    blocks within a residual area remained after arranging the    size-changed partial image area in the imaginary area.-   (9) According to still another aspect of the present invention, in    the image processing apparatus recited in any one of items 1-7, in    the image processing, the control section divides the partial    character area into a plurality of character images, each of which    represents each of characters included in the partial character    area, to apply the variable power processing to each of the    plurality of character images so as to generate a plurality of    size-changed character images, and then, arranges the plurality of    size-changed character images within a residual area remained after    arranging the size-changed partial image area into the imaginary    area.-   (10) According to still another aspect of the present invention, the    image processing apparatus recited in any one of items 1-9, further    comprises: a selecting section to accept a selecting operation for    selecting any one of the partial image area and the partial    character area, to which a priority is to be given by overriding the    other one; wherein the control section changes the first variable    magnification factor and the second variable magnification factor    respectively and independently from each other, corresponding to a    priority order of them, determined as a result of the selecting    operation accepted by the selecting section.-   (11) According to still another aspect of the present invention, the    image processing apparatus recited in any one of items 1-10, further    comprises: an operating section to accept operations for    establishing setting items in regard to a printing operation based    on the original image and for inputting an upper limit of money    amount to be charged for the printing operation; wherein the control    section compares the upper limit of money amount, inputted from the    operating section, with a charged fee to be actually charged when    the printing operation is implemented according to the setting items    established from the operating section, so as to perform the image    processing when the charged fee exceeds the upper limit of money    amount.-   (12) According to yet another aspect of the present invention, in    the image processing apparatus recited in any one of items 1-11, the    control section perform the image processing when a residual amount    of printing agent, to be used for a printing operation based on the    original image, is lower than a predetermined lower limit of the    printing agent.-   (13) According to an image processing apparatus reflecting another    aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus,    comprises: an image data acquiring section to acquire image data    representing an original image; a detecting section to detect    attributes of each of pages included in the original image    represented by the image data acquired by the image data acquiring    section; and a control section to determine specific pages, being    suitable for applying a predetermined image processing, among the    pages included in the original image, based on the attributes    detected by the detecting section, so as to apply the predetermined    image processing to the specific pages.-   (14) According to still another aspect of the present invention, in    the image processing apparatus recited in item 13, the control    section also determines a priority order of the specific pages to    which the predetermined image processing is to be applied, based on    the attributes detected by the detecting section.-   (15) According to still another aspect of the present invention, in    the image processing apparatus recited in item 14, the attributes    include plural kinds of attributes, and the priority order is    determined by weighting each of the plural kinds of attributes    corresponding to contents of the predetermined image processing.-   (16) According to still another aspect of the present invention, in    the image processing apparatus recited in any one of items 13-15,    when applying the predetermined image processing to the specific    pages as a single set of processing objects, the control section    employs a combination of the attributes in regard to each of the    specific pages as one of criteria for determining the specific    pages.-   (17) According to still another aspect of the present invention, in    the image processing apparatus recited in any one of items 13-16,    the attributes includes at least one of a size of characters    residing on a page serving as one of the pages, a size of a partial    image area residing on the page concerned, a kind of the partial    image area residing on the page concerned, a kind of color used for    the page concerned and a density of whole image itself included in    the page concerned.-   (18) According to still another aspect of the present invention, the    image processing apparatus recited in any one of items 13-17,    further comprises: an operating section to accept operations for    establishing setting items in regard to a printing operation based    on the original image and for inputting an upper limit of money    amount to be charged for the printing operation; wherein the control    section compares the upper limit of money amount, inputted from the    operating section, with a charged fee to be actually charged when    the printing operation is implemented according to the setting items    established from the operating section, so as to apply the    predetermined image processing, which makes it possible to reduce    the charged fee, to the specific pages determined in advance, when    the charged fee exceeds the upper limit of money amount.-   (19) According to still another aspect of the present invention, in    the image processing apparatus recited in any one of items 13-18,    when a residual amount of printing agent, to be used for a printing    operation based on the original image, is lower than a predetermined    lower limit of the printing agent, the control section apply the    predetermined image processing, which makes it possible to reduce a    consuming amount of the printing agent to a level lower than that in    a normal printing operation, to the specific pages determined in    advance.-   (20) According to still another aspect of the present invention, in    the image processing apparatus recited in any one of items 13-19,    the control section applies an integration print processing, serving    as the predetermined image processing in which the specific pages    are integrated and printed into a single page area, to the specific    pages.-   (21) According to still another aspect of the present invention, in    the image processing apparatus recited in any one of items 13-20,    the control section applies a duplex print processing, serving as    the predetermined image processing in which a single pair or plural    pairs of the specific pages are respectively printed onto both sides    of a single paper sheet or plural paper sheets, to the specific    pages.-   (22) According to yet another aspect of the present invention, in    the image processing apparatus recited in any one of items 13-21,    the control section applies such an image processing, serving as the    predetermined image processing, that makes it possible to reduce a    consuming amount of printing agent to a level lower than that in a    normal printing operation, to the specific pages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary,not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in severalFigures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram indicating a rough configuration of acopier installed in a copy fee charging system embodied in the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram indicating an example of a documentbased on which a copier, embodied in the present invention, conducts acopy printing operation;

FIG. 3(A) and FIG. 3(B) show schematic diagrams indicating exemplarypages in each of which contents of a second page and a third page, bothshown in FIG. 2, are integrated into 1 page space, as an example of the2 in 1 printing in which a pair of continued pages extracted from 3pages of a document;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram illustrating layout procedures forarranging a partial image area when a 2 in 1 printing operation isimplemented by employing a pair of the second page and the third pageshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5(A), FIG. 5(B), FIG. 5(C) and FIG. 5(D) show schematic diagramsillustrating layout procedures for arranging a partial image area andpartial character areas in a unit of character block on a page spacewhen a 2 in 1 printing operation is implemented by employing a pair ofthe second page and the third page shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary screen, which is displayed on an operatingdisplay section and on which a print preview of a document and a printfee to be proposed to the user are displayed;

FIG. 7 shows an explanatory schematic diagram illustrating a state thatcharacters (size-adjusted character images), included in partialcharacter areas, are arranged into a residual area of an imaginary area,when a 2 in 1 printing operation is implemented with respect to a pairof the second page and the third page shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart indicating a consecutive flow of copyprocessing to be conducted by a copier embodied in the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart indicating a consecutive flow of copyprocessing to be conducted by a copier embodied in the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 shows a schematic diagram indicating an example of a conditiontable stored in a copier embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 11 shows a schematic diagram indicating exemplary pages included ina document, based on which a copier, embodied in the present invention,implements a copy printing operation;

FIG. 12 shows a schematic diagram indicating an exemplary preview screento be displayed on an operating display section of a copier embodied inthe present invention;

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart indicating a processing flow as a main routineof a copy printing operation to be implemented by a copier embodied inthe present invention;

FIG. 14 shows a flowchart indicating a rough processing flow of an imagechange processing to be implemented by a copier embodied in the presentinvention; and

FIG. 15 shows a flowchart indicating a detailed processing flow of animage change processing to be implemented by a copier embodied in thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention will be detailed in the following.

Initially, the terminology employed hereinafter in this specificationwill be defined in the following. In the present specification, the termof a “partial image area” is different from that of an “image” to bespecified otherwise in its implications (however, the term of an “imagesize” is excluded). For instance, the term of a “partial image area”indicates a graphic chart (such as, a graph, an illustration, aschematic diagram, etc.), a photographic image, etc., while the term ofan “image size” indicates a size (dimension) of a graphic chart, aphotographic image, etc. On the other hand, the term of a “partialcharacter area” indicates a sectional portion or an area, in which acertain kind of characters are utilized for describing a characterstring, some sentence, etc. Further, characters written on a graphicchart or a photographic image are regarded as inclusions of a “partialimage area” defined in the above.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram indicating a rough configuration of acopier 10 installed in a copy fee charging system 5. The copy feecharging system 5 provides a pay copy service, and is constituted by thecopier 10 and a fee charge apparatus 50, which are coupled to each otherthrough a communication cable 7 so as to make the communication betweenthem possible.

The copier 10 serves as an apparatus (image processing apparatus),called a “digital color copier”, that is provided with various kinds offunctions, such as a color copying function for making a color copy froma document, a color printer function, etc., and, in the copy feecharging system 5, implements copy printing operations in accordancewith the inputting operations conducted by the user of the copy service.Further, other than the abovementioned, the various kinds of printingfunctions to be conducted by the copier 10 include: the integrationprinting function (N in 1 printing function) for applying the reductionvariable power processing to the images included in the plural documentpages, so as to integrally print the size-reduced images within onepage; a duplex printing function for printing the images, included inthe plural document pages, on both sides of a paper sheet; and a tonersaving function for saving the consumption amount of toner (printingagent) to be consumed during the printing operation, by lowering theprinting density. On the other hand, the fee charge apparatus 50 servesas a coin vender, etc., that receives coins, etc., inserted by the user,so as to collect a suitable amount of fees corresponding to the usage ofthe service, and in the copy fee charging system 5, conducts theoperations for charging fees for the copy service used by the user.

As shown in FIG. 1, the copier 10 is constituted by a CPU (CentralProcessing Unit) 11 serving as a control section, a ROM (Read OnlyMemory) 13, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 14, a non-volatile storage 15,an operating display section 16, a scanner section 17, an imageprocessing section 18, a printer section 19, a fee charge processingsection 20 and a communication section 21, which are coupled to eachother through a bus 12.

The CPU 11 controls various kinds of operations to be conducted in thecopier 10 based on programs stored in the ROM 13. The RAM 14 serves asnot only a working memory for temporarily storing various kinds of datawhen the CPU 11 executes the programs, but also an image memory fortemporarily storing image data, therein, or the like. The non-volatilestorage 15 serves as such a memory that retains the contents of storeddata, even if its power source is turned OFF, and stores informationbeing inherent to the apparatus concerned, various kinds of settinginformation, a condition table 30 detailed later, etc., therein.

Further, the operating display section 16 not only serves as a displaysection that displays various kinds of operating screens and guidingscreens to be used by the user, etc., who uses the copy service providedby the copier 10, but also serves as an operating section and/or aselecting section that accepts various kinds of operations, such as asetting operation, a data inputting operation, a selecting operation,etc., conducted for the copier 10 by the user, etc. The setting items tobe accepted by the operating display section 16 include setting items inregard to the printing (print settings), such as a number of printedcopies produced through the copy operation of the document image, aprinted image quality, a printing size (size of output paper sheet),etc., and other setting items in regard to the copy mode, such as amonochrome or color printing mode to be employed for the copy printingof the document image, a one side or duplex printing mode, etc., andstill other setting items. Further, the inputting items to be acceptedby the operating display section 16 include inputting items in regard toan upper limit of money amount being allowable for the copy printingoperation established by the user (in other words, an amount of copyfees desired by the user), etc. Still further, the selecting items to beaccepted by the operating display section 16 include a selecting itemfor selecting anyone of the partial image area and the partial characterarea, which overrides the other as the condition for the copy printingoperation of the document image, etc. In this connection, hereinafter,the case in which the partial image area overrides the partial characterarea is referred to as an “image priority case”, while the case in whichthe partial character area overrides the partial image area is referredto as a “character priority case”. Still further, in the presentembodiment, the operating display section 16 is constituted by a LCD(Liquid Crystal Display), a touch panel mounted on a screen of the LCDand various kinds of switches.

Further, the scanner section 17 has a function for optically reading thedocument so as to acquire image data representing a color image. Forinstance, the scanner section 17 is constituted by: a light source toirradiate light onto the document; a color-type image sensor to receivethe light reflected from the document so as to read the document in itswidth direction (main-scanning direction) by one scanning line; ascanning mechanism to move the reading position of the color-type imagesensor, which reads the document in a unit of its scanning line, in alongitudinal direction of the document (sub-scanning direction); anoptical path that includes various kinds of optical elements, such as alens, a mirror, etc., so as to guide the light reflected from thedocument to the color-type image sensor; etc. Further, the imageprocessing section 18 has a function for applying various kinds of imageprocessing, such as an image correction processing, an image rotationprocessing, a size enlargement/reduction processing, anexpansion/compression processing, etc., to the image data.

Still further, the printer section 19 has a function for printing acolor image, represented by the image data inputted therein, onto apaper sheet, and then, outputting the printed paper sheet. For instance,the printer section 19 serves as a color laser printer, etc., that isprovided with a paper sheet conveying unit, a photoreceptor drum, acharging device, a laser beam emitting unit, a developing device, atransferring separation device, a cleaning device, a fixing device,etc., so as to form a color image on the paper sheet through theelectro-photographic process. Further, the printer section 19 is alsoprovided with a toner residual amount detecting section 22.

Yet further, the fee charge processing section 20 has a function forconducting processing operations in regard to the fees to be charged forthe copy printing operation implemented by the copier 10. Further, thecommunication section 21 has a function for communicating with the feecharge apparatus 50 through the communication cable 7, which is coupledto the fee charge apparatus 50.

Now, the first embodiment of the present invention and the secondembodiment of the present invention will be separately detailed in thefollowing.

First Embodiment

By executing corresponding one of the programs, the CPU 11 compares anamount of copy charge, to be charged at the time when the copy printingoperation established from the operating display section 16 isimplemented, and the upper limit of money amount, inputted by the user,with each other, so as to conduct a predetermined image processing, whenthe amount of copy charge is greater than the upper limit of moneyamount as a result of the above comparison. It is also applicable thatthis predetermined image processing is conducted at the time when theresidual amount of toner, detected by the toner residual amountdetecting section 22 of the printer section 19, is lower than apredetermined lower limit value.

The predetermined image processing abovementioned is such a processingthat reduces the number of printed paper-sheets produced from thedocument images by conducting the copy printing operation employing theintegration printing function, namely, the processing that includes anintegration processing for reducing the number of printed paper-sheetsby integrating the document images of the plural pages into 1 page, andanother processing for changing the sizes of the partial image areas andthe partial character areas, included in the document images to beintegrated, with the different variable magnification factors, so as toarrange all of the partial image areas and the partial character areaswithin a printing area of 1 page (image processing of partial imagearea/partial character area individual variable power arrangement).

The FIRST EMBODIMENT of the present invention employs the 2 in 1 printprocessing for integrating the document images of 2 pages into 1 page,as the integration processing abovementioned. Accordingly, when the sizeof the document and the printing size is the same as each other, byapplying the 2 in 1 print processing to the document images, the size ofthe processed images are reduced to ½ of the original size (variablemagnification factor; 70%, area ratio; 50%). In this connection,hereinafter, the predetermined image processing abovementioned will bealso referred to as a “partially separated image processing”. Further,hereinafter, each of the term of the “variable magnification factor” andthe term of the “reduction factor” indicates a ratio represented by anarea ratio.

Further, the CPU 11 also serves as a detecting section to detect thepartial image area and the partial character area included in thedocument image (original image) represented by the image data acquiredby the scanner section 17. In order to perform the abovementioneddetecting operation, the CPU 11 employs a general purpose algorism forparsing contents of the image data so as to separately discriminate datarepresenting the partial image area and other data representing thepartial character area, etc.

Still further, as aforementioned, the CPU 11 employs the integrationprinting function for reducing the number of printed paper sheets, andcreates a print preview screen that satisfies the upper limit of moneyamount, set by the user, so as to display the created print previewscreen on the operating display section 16. Still further, in order tocreate the print preview screen, the CPU 11 creates an imaginary area(area of outputting use), the size of which is equal to the printingsize (size equivalent to that of 1 page of the output paper sheets)established from the operating display section 16, and changes the sizesof the partial image areas and the partial character areas, included inthe document images to be integrated, with the variable magnificationfactors being different from each other, respectively, so as to arrangethem within the imaginary area created in advance.

Still further, in the partially separated image processingabovementioned, the CPU 11 performs various kinds of functionsincluding: a function for heightening the variable magnification factorof the partial image areas to a value being higher than that of thepartial character areas; another function for changing the sizes of thepartial image areas with the predetermined variable magnification factorso as to arrange them in the imaginary area, prior to the partialcharacter areas, and then, changing the sizes of the partial characterareas so that the partial character areas can be arranged andaccommodated within the residual area of the imaginary area; and stillanother function for changing the differential values between thevariable magnification factors of the partial image areas and those ofthe partial character areas, corresponding to the priority orderselected by the operating display section 16. Concretely speaking withrespect to the function for changing the differential values, each ofthe variable magnification factors corresponding to each of the imageprior case and the character prior case, for the partial image areas,are determined in advance, and then, any one of the variablemagnification factors is employed corresponding to the selection ofeither the image prior case and the character prior case, and thevariable magnification factor of the partial character areas is changedto an appropriate value corresponding to a size of the residual areaabovementioned.

In the FIRST EMBODIMENT of the present invention, the variablemagnification factors for the partial image areas are set at 100% (samemagnification) for the image prior case and 70% (reduction variablepower) for the character prior case, respectively. Further, the variablemagnification factor for the partial image areas is set at such a valuethat is greater than 50%, which is the reduction factor of the documentimages to be employed in the 2 in 1 mode when the document size and theprinting size are the same as each other.

Still further, in the partially separated image processing, the CPU 11further performs: a function for dividing the partial character areainto character blocks for every range in which plural characters aresuccessively continued, and then, applies the variable power processingto each of the character blocks divided in advance so as to arrange theprocessed (size-changed) character blocks within the residual area; anda function for dividing the partial character area into character imagesfor every character and then, applies the variable power processing toeach of the character images divided in advance so as to arrange theprocessed (size-changed) character images within the residual area. Inthis connection, hereinafter in the present specification, an imageacquired by dividing the partial character area for every character (ina unit of one character) is defined as a “character image”.

The CPU 11 employs a kind of general-purpose algorism to perform a blockrecognition processing of the partial character area. For instance, theCPU 11 conducts a character recognition processing by employing an OCR(Optical Character Reader) program, so as to search out a period “.”included in the partial character area. Then, the CPU 11 employs ageneral purpose algorism including the steps of: dividing the periodarea into 4 areas vertically and horizontally so as to detect theposition of the period; determining the head and tail positions of thedocument image concerned, and determining whether the character string,to which the concerned period is attached, is written in the verticaldirection or the horizontal direction; if no character successivelycontinue after the period, determining that the position of theconcerned period area is the line brake position; recognizing thecharacter string up to the concerned period as one paragraph; etc., soas to recognize a state of one of the character blocks. Alternatively,it is also possible for the CPU 11 to perform the block recognitionprocessing of the partial character area by employing an algorism otherthan the abovementioned algorism.

In this connection, other than the CPU 11, the image processing section18 also performs the partially separated image processingabovementioned. Alternatively, it is also applicable that the imageprocessing section 18 takes partial charge of it.

Yet further, at a predetermined timing when the copy-printed paper sheet(print product) is ejected from the copier 10, the CPU 11 transmits acharging signal to the fee charge apparatus 50 through the communicationsection 21. For instance, when an ejecting paper sheet counter, mountedin the vicinity of a paper sheet ejecting opening of an ejecting tray(not shown in the drawings), detects the paper sheet, the CPU 11 istriggered to transmit the charging signal. On the other hand, receivingthe charging signal from the copier 10, the fee charge apparatus 50charges the copy fee.

Next, contents of the partially separated image processing, a procedurefor creating the print preview and contents of its display screen willbe detailed in the following.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram indicating an example of a document Pbased on which the copier 10 conducts the copy printing operation. Asshown in FIG. 2, the document P is constituted by plural pages (pluralnumber of paper sheets) including the partial image areas and thepartial character areas. Each of the partial image areas represents, forinstance, a photographic image, a picture, a graph, a schematic diagram,etc. Concretely speaking, the document P is constituted by 3 pages ofA4-size paper sheets including a document P1 serving as Page 1 (firstpaper sheet) of the document P and a document P2 serving as Page 2(second paper sheet) of the document P, on each of which the partialcharacter area (a1, a2) and the partial image area (c1, c2) are printed,respectively, and further, a document P3 serving as Page 3 (third papersheet) of the document P, on which only the partial character area (a3)is printed.

In the document P1 serving as Page 1, the partial character area a1 isdisposed at an upper section of the page space in such a manner that thecharacter strings are written in the horizontal direction so as tooccupy substantially the whole width of the page space. On the otherhand, the partial image area c1 is disposed over substantially the wholearea excluding the partial character area a1 and peripheral blank areasof the page space.

Further, in the document P2 serving as Page 2, the partial image area c2is disposed at a right-lower section of the page space. The sizes of thepartial image area c2 are established in such a manner that the verticallength “ch” is equal to or smaller than a half (½) of the verticallength “nh” of the document P2, while the horizontal length “cw” isequal to or smaller than a half (½) of the horizontal length “nw” of thedocument P2. On the other hand, the partial character area a2 isdisposed at an upper section and left-side section of the page space, insuch a manner that the character strings are written in the horizontaldirection so as to occupy substantially the whole width of the pagespace at the upper section, while, at the left-side section, thecharacter strings are written in the horizontal direction so as toinsert a little blank area into the left-lower side section.

Still further, in the document P3 serving as Page 3, the partialcharacter area a3 is disposed over substantially the whole area of thepage space, excluding the peripheral blank areas of the page space and alittle blank area inserted into the lower section of the page space.

When conducting the copy printing operation of the document by using thecopier 10, the user of the copy service inputs setting items in regardto the copy mode (such as a color or monochrome printing mode, a oneside or duplex printing mode, a print size, a number of copies, etc.)through the operating display section 16. In addition to the above, theconcerned user also inputs an upper limit of copy fee, being payable forthe user, and selects either the “image priority case” or the “characterpriority case”. Hereinafter within the descriptions of the firstembodiment, it is assumed that the user establishes the color printingmode, the one side printing mode, the A4 print size, a number ofcopies=1, as the copy mode, and inputs ¥100 as the upper limit of copyfee, and selects the “image priority case”. Further, it is also assumedthat the copy fee is set at ¥50 per one paper sheet. In this connection,it is also applicable that the establishment of the copy mode isachieved by changing the default setting items. For instance, when thecolor printing mode, the one side printing mode, the A4 print size, anumber of copies=1, are set in advance as the default setting items ofthe copy mode, the abovementioned setting operation of the copy mode canbe omitted. After completing the abovementioned operations, the usermakes the scanner section 17 of the copier 10 read the documentconcerned.

The CPU 11 of the copier 10 calculates an amount of copy charge(required copy fee) in a case that the copy printing operation, based onthe image data read from the document by the scanner section 17, isactually implemented in the copy mode established by the user. In thecase of the document P shown in FIG. 2, the amount of copy charge can becalculated as ¥50/sheet×3 sheets=¥150. Then, the CPU 11 compares thecalculated amount of copy charge with the upper limit of copy feeinputted by the user. When determining that the calculated amount ofcopy charge is equal to or lower than the upper limit of copy fee(actual amount of copy charge≦upper limit of copy fee), the CPU 11implements the copy printing operation of the document P as it is. Onthe other hand, when determining that the calculated amount of copycharge is higher than the upper limit of copy fee (actual amount of copycharge>upper limit of copy fee), the CPU 11 implements the partiallyseparated image processing.

In the partially separated image processing, the CPU 11 finds acondition for making the actual amount of copy charge being equal to orlower than the upper limit of copy fee by performing the 2 in 1printing. In this case, it is possible to make the actual amount of copycharge being equal to or lower than the upper limit of copy fee byintegrating 2 pages of the document sheets into 1 page so as to reducethe number of printing paper sheets from 3 sheets to 2 sheets. When thecondition for the 2 in 1 printing, which makes the actual amount of copycharge being equal to or lower than the upper limit of copy fee, can befound as abovementioned, the CPU 11 searches out pages suitable for the2 in 1 printing, namely in this case, a pair of continued pages beingsuitable for the 2 in 1 printing, and then, detects the partial imagearea(s) and the partial character area(s) included in the pair of pagesconcerned, to change the sizes of them with variable magnificationfactors being different form each other, respectively, so as toaccommodate and arrange them within the 1 page space.

FIG. 3(A) and FIG. 3(B) show schematic diagrams indicating exemplarypages in each of which contents of the second page and the third pageare integrated into 1 page space, as an example of the 2 in 1 printingin which the pair of continued pages extracted from 3 pages of thedocument P. FIG. 3(A) shows the exemplary page when the variablemagnification factor of the partial image area is set at 100% (imagepriority case), while FIG. 3(B) shows the other exemplary page when thevariable magnification factor of the partial image area is set at 70%(character priority case).

In the FIRST EMBODIMENT, since the user selects the image priority case,the variable magnification factor of the partial image area isautomatically set at 100%. Contrarily, if the user has selected thecharacter priority case, the variable magnification factor of thepartial image area would be automatically set at 70%. In thisconnection, it is also applicable that the variable magnification factorof the partial image area, automatically set as abovementioned, isfurther changeable (adjustable) to an arbitral value by the user. Forinstance, in the character priority case, the variable magnificationfactor of 70%, automatically set in advance for the partial image area,may be further adjusted to another arbitral variable magnificationfactor, such as 80%, 90%, etc.

Successively, with respect to each of the pages included in thedocument, the CPU 11 confirms the conditions (1) and (2), indicated asfollows, from the first page of the document concerned, to search a pairof continued pages fulfilling the conditions and being suitable for the2 in 1 printing.

-   (1) At first, the CPU 11 confirms whether or not the partial image    area is surrounded by the characters in at least 3 circumferential    directions within the document. This is because, if the partial    image area is surrounded by the characters in at least 3    circumferential directions, it becomes difficult to determine the    layout of the partial character area(s) when conducting the 2 in 1    printing without changing the size of the partial image area.-   (2) When confirming that the partial image area is not surrounded    (condition (1) is not fulfilled), the CPU 11 further confirms    whether or not at least one of the vertical length and the    horizontal length of the partial image area is shorter than a half    (½) of corresponding one of the vertical length and the horizontal    length of the document (document paper sheet). This is because, in    the 2 in 1 printing, when the document size is equal to the print    size, the document image is printed in its half size (½ as area    ratio). Accordingly, with respect to the document in which either    the vertical or the horizontal length of the partial image area is    equal to or greater than the half (½) of corresponding one of the    vertical length and the horizontal length of the document, the    possibility that the partial image area runs off the edge of the    printing paper sheet is getting higher, if the 2 in 1 printing    operation is implemented without changing the size of the partial    image area. Theoretically, provided that the vertical length of the    partial image area is shorter than the horizontal length of the    document and the horizontal length of the partial image area is    shorter than the half (½) of the vertical length of the document,    the partial image area should not run off the edge of the printing    paper sheet, even if the 2 in 1 printing operation is implemented    without changing the size of the partial image area. However, in    this FIRST EMBODIMENT, it is confirmed by employing the    abovementioned condition with a margin. Further, the upper limit    value (standard value) to be employed for the abovementioned    confirming operation varies depending on its variable magnification    factor except when the variable magnification factor of the partial    image area is set at 100%. For instance, the upper limit value is    derived from the Equation indicated as follow, etc.

(Upper limit value)=(Horizontal·Vertical length of document)×½÷(VariableMagnification Factor)

The 2 in 1 printing operation is implemented by employing the pair ofcontinued pages that fulfill the conditions (1) and (2) abovementioned.With respect to the document P, the vertical length and the horizontallength of the partial image area c1 exceed the half (½) of the verticallength and the half (½) of the horizontal length of the document,respectively. Therefore, if the 2 in 1 printing operation wereimplemented by employing the pair of the document P1 of the first pageand the document P2 of the second page, the partial image area c1 inwhich the variable magnification factor is set at 100% (same size) wouldrun off the edge of the printing paper sheet.

Then, the CPU 11 conducts the same confirming operation for the pair ofthe document P2 of the second page and the document P3 of the thirdpage. Since the pair of the document P2 and the document P3 fulfills theconditions (1) and (2), the CPU 11 determines that the 2 in 1 printingoperation is to be implemented by employing the pair of the document P2and the document P3.

FIG. 4 and FIGS. 5(A) through 5(D) show schematic diagrams illustratinglayout procedures for arranging the partial image area and the partialcharacter areas on the page space when the 2 in 1 printing operation isimplemented by employing the pair of the document P2 and the documentP3. In the FIRST EMBODIMENT, the layout of the partial image area andthe partial character areas is achieved by performing the proceduresteps of: determining the variable magnification factor of the partialimage area corresponding to the result of selecting either the imagepriority case or the character priority case; arranging the partialimage area, the size of which is changed by employing the variablemagnification factor determined in the above, into the imaginary area tobe used for the 2 in 1 printing and created on the memory, prior to thepartial image area; and reducing the size of the partial character areaby employing such a variable magnification factor that makes the partialimage area fit within the residual area of the page space. Further, thesize of the partial character area is made to be as large as possible,while fitting it with the size of the residual area.

Concretely speaking, as shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 11 creates an imaginaryarea R to be used for the 2 in 1 printing operation on the memory. Sincethe print size is set at A4 size in the FIRST EMBODIMENT, the size ofthe imaginary area R is also set at A4 size. Further, since the imagepriority case is selected, the CPU 11 fits the partial image area c2 ofthe document P2 within the left-half page area of the imaginary area Rwithout changing the size of the partial image area c2 (variablemagnification factor: 100%), and then, moves the partial image area c2toward the corner of the left-half page area at which the partial imagearea c2 is not surrounded by the characters. Successively, the CPU 11divides the partial character area a2 into plural character blockswithin each of which plural characters are successively continued, so asto determine layout positions of the plural character blocks, each ofwhich should be located in the residual area other the partial imagearea c2 within the imaginary area R, one by one in order, the leadingone first, and then, arranges them into the imaginary area R afterconducting the size adjusting operation.

As shown in FIG. 5(A), the CPU 11 detects an arranging area d1, ontowhich a first character block b1 divided from the partial character areaa2 is positioned, within the imaginary area R. In the FIRST EMBODIMENT,the arranging area d1 is located at the upper area of the partial imagearea c2 in the left-half page area on which the partial image area c2 isarranged.

As shown in FIG. 5(B), determining the arranging area d1, the CPU 11further determines the variable magnification factor to be applied forthe first character block b1, so as to match its size with the size ofthe arranging area d1, and then, conducts the size adjustment operationby changing the size of the first character block b1 with using thevariable magnification factor determined in the above. At this occasion,the CPU 11 compares the magnification factor (reduction factor),acquired by dividing the horizontal length of the arranging area d1 bythe other horizontal length of the first character block b1, with theother magnification factor (reduction factor), acquired by dividing thevertical length of the arranging area d1 by the other vertical length ofthe first character block b1, so as to determine the smaller one as thevariable magnification factor of the first character block b1. Further,the variable magnification factors of the first character block b1 inboth horizontal and vertical directions are set at the same value.

Successively as shown in FIG. 5(C), the CPU 11 arranges thesize-adjusted first character block b1 into the arranging area d1 so asto accommodate it within the arranging area d1. As a result, the firstcharacter block b1 is arranged into the arranging area d1 as themaximized size for it, and the blank areas generated around theperipheral of the first character block b1 after arranging the firstcharacter block b1 can be minimized. Further, considering a pageappearance, etc., it is desirable that the actual position of the firstcharacter block b1 is adjusted corresponding to the direction in whichthe blank areas are generated. For instance, when the blank areas aregenerated in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 5(C), it isdesirable that the position of the first character block b1 is adjustedat the center of the arranging area d1 in its horizontal direction, soas to generate the blank areas having an equivalent size on left andright sides of the first character block b1, respectively. Further, whenthe blank areas are generated in the vertical direction, it is desirablethat the position of the first character block b1 is shifted to theupper side of the arranging area d1 in its vertical direction, so as togenerate the blank area only at the lower side of the first characterblock b1, etc.

Still successively, as shown in FIG. 5(D), with respect to a secondcharacter block b2 divided from the partial character area a2 of thedocument P2, the CPU 11 also conducts the same procedure steps asabovementioned, including the detection of the arranging area in theleft-half page area, the size adjustment fitted with the arranging areaconcerned, and the arrangement into the arranging area concerned. Inthis FIRST EMBODIMENT, the size of the second character block b2 isadjusted at such a maximum size that can be accommodated within the leftside area of the partial image area c2 in the left-half page area inwhich the partial image area c2 is arranged, so as to dispose the secondcharacter block b2 therein.

Still successively, with respect to the partial character area a3 of thedocument P3, the CPU 11 also conducts the operation for dividing thepartial character area a3 in a unit of the block, and with respect tothe third character block b3 and the forth character block b4, conductsthe equivalent procedure steps as abovementioned, including thedetection of the arranging area in the right-half page area within theimaginary area R, the size adjustment fitted with the arranging areaconcerned, and the arrangement into the arranging area concerned. Inthis FIRST EMBODIMENT, the size of the third character block b3, locatedat the upper side of the partial character area a3, is adjusted at sucha maximum size that can be accommodated within the upper side area ofthe partial image area c3 in the right-half page area, so as to disposethe second character block b3 therein. Further, the size of the fourthcharacter block b4, located at the lower side of the partial characterarea a3, is adjusted at such a maximum size that can be accommodatedwithin the lower side area of the partial image area c3 in theright-half page area, so as to dispose the fourth character block b4therein.

Finalizing the layout processing for arranging the partial image areaand the partial character area into the imaginary area R by implementingthe partially separated image processing abovementioned, the CPU 11proposes a print preview and a print fee (amount of charged fee) to theuser. When the user inputs an approval for the proposed contents, theCPU 11 conducts the print outputting operation for outputting theprintout having the contents being same as those of the print previewscreen, while, the user inputs a disapproval for the proposed contents,the CPU 11 conducts a re-layout operation for again arranging thepartial character areas into the imaginary area R.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary screen, which is displayed on the operatingdisplay section 16 after the partially separated image processingabovementioned has been completed, and on which the print preview of thedocument P and the print fee to be proposed to the user are displayed.When the user depresses an implementation button 30, the CPU 11implements the print outputting operation for outputting the printouthaving the contents being same as those of the print preview screen. Onthe other hand, when the user depresses a cancel button 31, the CPU 11conducts the re-layout operation for again arranging the partialcharacter areas in a unit of character, detailed in the following,without implementing the print outputting operation.

In the re-layout operation in a unit of character, the partial characterarea is divided into characters in a unit of character, and at the sametime, based on the arrangeable area for the partial character area(residual area) and a number of characters included therein, the CPU 11determines a variable magnification factor that makes it possible tomaximize each size of the characters and to accommodate it within theresidual area, and then, changes the size of each of the characters byemploying the variable magnification factor determined in the above, soas to achieve the re-layout operation of the partial character area.Further, the blank areas residing in the original document are utilizedfor rearranging the partial character areas without conducting there-layout operation for the blank areas abovementioned, so as to makethe variable magnification factor of the character as large as possible.

At first, the CPU 11 once clears the partial character area a2 and thepartial character area a3, which had been arranged in a unit of theblock, to calculate the residual area derived by excluding the partialimage area c2 from the imaginary area R. In this connection, it isapplicable that the above residual area is defined as a part of theimaginary area, derived by excluding the partial image area and theperipheral blank areas from the imaginary area R.

When a blank area, other than the partial image area and the partialcharacter area, exists in the original document, sometimes, the blankarea would be included in the residual area. As aforementioned, thevariable power processing is applied to the partial image area so as toarrange the size-changed partial image area into the imaginary area,prior to the partial character area. Accordingly, if some amount ofresidual part of the blank area still remains without being eroded bythe size-changed partial image area arranged into the imaginary area,the residual part of the blank area is included in the residual area.

For instance, as shown in FIG. 2, the blank areas exist within the bothdocument areas of the document P2 and the document P3, both of which areto be processed in the 2 in 1 printing. In the abovementioned blankareas, there still remains some amount of the residual part withoutbeing eroded by the size-changed partial image area c2 arranged into theimaginary area R. Accordingly, the residual area in the imaginary area Rincludes the residual part of the blank areas abovementioned.

Successively, the CPU 11 divides the partial character area a2 and thepartial character area a3, newly read from the document P2 and thedocument P3, into character images in a unit of character, andcalculates an arrangement area per one character image, by dividing theresidual area by the total number of characters included in the partialcharacter area a2 and the partial character area a3. Matching with theabove-calculated arrangement area, the CPU 11 determines the variablemagnification factor of the character image, so as to conduct the sizeadjustment operation for changing a size of each of the character imagesby employing the variable magnification factor determined in the above.In this operation, the variable magnification factors of the characterimage in both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction aremade to be same as each other. Then, the CPU 11 sequentially embeds thesize-adjusted character images one by one into the correspondingarrangement areas in order of the character images, leading one first,so as to rearrange the partial character area a2 and the partialcharacter area a3 into the re-layout pattern.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram illustrating a state that thecharacters (size-adjusted character images), included in the partialcharacter area a2 and the partial character area a3, are embedded andarranged into the residual area of the imaginary area R, as the resultof the re-layout operation abovementioned. In this re-layout operationin a unit of character, each of the characters is adjusted to the samemaximum size before arranging them into the residual area of theimaginary area R, so that all of the characters can be accommodatedwithin the residual area concerned. Further, as being recognized bycomparing the schematic diagram shown in FIG. 7 with that shown in FIG.2, some characters are arranged into the blank areas residing in thepartial character area a2 and the partial character area a3, serving asthe original document. According to this re-layout operation in a unitof character, since the size adjustment operation (size maximizationoperation) of the characters is conducted by including all of such theblank areas into the residual area to be employed, it becomes possibleto easily enlarge each size of the characters. In this FIRST EMBODIMENT,as being recognized by comparing the schematic diagram shown in FIG. 7with that, illustrating the layout in a unit of the block, shown in FIG.5(D), the size of each of the characters is enlarged, compared to thoseshown in FIG. 5(D).

As described in the foregoing, according to the re-layout operation forthe imaginary area R in a unit of character, since the blank areas ofthe original document are also effectively utilized, an amount of theblank areas affects the size of the characters to be arranged into theimaginary area R. For instance, when a large blank area exists in theoriginal document, it may be possibly occur that the variablemagnification factor of the character becomes greater than the reductionfactor of the document image (50% in case of the 2 in 1 printing), orexceeds 100%. When the variable magnification factor of the characterexceeds 100%, the character size to be employed in the 2 in 1 printingis greater than that employed in the original document.

Further, when some characters cannot be accommodated within thecorresponding half page area in the imaginary area R as arranged in theoriginal document, the concerned some characters are sifted into theadjacent half page area so as to arrange them therein. In this FIRSTEMBODIMENT, as shown in FIG. 7, in the partial character area a2 of thedocument P2, the characters that cannot be accommodated within theleft-side half page area of the imaginary area R are sifted into theright-side half page area so as to arrange them therein.

Finalizing the re-layout processing for rearranging the partialcharacter area abovementioned into the imaginary area R, the CPU 11again proposes its print preview and the print fee to the user. When theuser inputs the approval for the above-proposed contents, the CPU 11conducts the print outputting operation for outputting the printouthaving the contents being same as those of the print preview screen.

Next, the operations to be conducted by the copier 10 will be detailedin the following.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show flowcharts indicating a consecutive flow of copyprocessing to be conducted by the copier 10. When the copier 10 isactivated, the CPU 11 starts the copy processing (START). The CPU 11accepts the setting items in regard to the copy mode, the upper limit ofmoney amount, and the selection in regard to either the image prioritycase or the character priority case, inputted by the user of the copyservice through the operating display section 16 (Step S101). Afterthat, the CPU 11 calculates an actual amount of money (print fee) to becharged when the copy printing operation is actually implemented on thebasis of the image data read from the original document by the scannersection 17, so as to determine whether or not the calculated print feeexceeds the upper limit of money amount inputted by the user concerned(Step S102).

Successively, when determining that the calculated print fee does notexceed the upper limit of money amount (Step S102; No), the CPU 11implements the copy printing operation based on the image data read fromthe original document (Step S123), and conducts the print fee processingfor the copy printing operation implemented in the above, and afterthat, finalizes the copy processing (END). On the other hand, whendetermining that the calculated print fee exceeds the upper limit ofmoney amount (Step S102; Yes), the CPU 11 implements the partiallyseparated image processing aforementioned.

At first, the CPU 11 detects the partial image areas and the partialcharacter areas (Step S103), both included in the document image, andthen, confirms whether or not the partial image area, residing in eachof predetermined pages (initially, the first page and the second page),is surrounded by the characters in at least 3 circumferential directionsof the partial image area concerned (Step S104).

When confirming that the partial image area is surrounded (Step S104;Yes), the CPU 11 shifts the processing to Step S107. When confirmingthat the partial image area is not surrounded (Step S104; Yes), the CPU11 further confirms whether or not the vertical length and thehorizontal length of the partial image area are smaller than a half (½)of the other vertical length and a half (½) of the other horizontallength of the document, respectively (Step S105).

When confirming that at least one of the vertical length and thehorizontal length of the partial image area is equal to or greater thanat least corresponding one of a half (½) of the other vertical lengthand a half (½) of the other horizontal length of the document (StepS105; Yes), the CPU 11 shifts the processing to Step S107. Whenconfirming that the vertical length and the horizontal length of thepartial image area are smaller than a half (½) of the other verticallength and a half (½) of the other horizontal length of the document,respectively, the CPU 11 still further confirms whether or not theconsecutive two sheets of the document (initially, the first page andthe second page) fulfill the aforementioned two conditions (Step S104,Step S105 and Step S106).

When determining that the consecutive two sheets do not fulfill theaforementioned two conditions, the CPU 11 shifts the processing to StepS107. When determining that the consecutive two sheets fulfill theaforementioned two conditions, the CPU 11 shifts the processing to StepS111.

Still successively, in Step S107, the CPU 11 confirms whether or not anext page, positioned next to the predetermined pages confirmed in theabovementioned steps, exists. When determining that the next pageexists, the CPU 11 returns the processing to Step S104, so as to appliesthe confirming processing in Step S104 and later steps to the next page,as well. When determining that the next page does not exist, the CPU 11makes the operating display section 16 display such a warning messagethat indicates “The required copy printing cannot be implemented due toa shortage of the inputted upper limit of money amount.” on the screenthereof (Step S108), and proposes the print preview and the charged fee(Step S109).

When receiving the operation for approving the proposed contents(depression of the implementation button 30) (Step S110; Yes), the CPU11 implements the copy printing operation concerned (Step S123), andconducts the print fee processing for the copy printing operationimplemented in the above, and after that, finalizes the copy processing(END). On the other hand, when receiving the operation for disapprovingthe proposed contents (depression of the cancel button 31) (Step S110;No), the CPU 11 finalizes the copy processing without implementing thecopy printing operation concerned (END).

On the other hand, in Step S111, the CPU 11 applies the variable powerprocessing to the partial image area by employing the variablemagnification factor corresponding to the result of selecting either theimage priority case or the character priority case, so as to accommodatethe size-changed partial image area into the imaginary area R to be usedfor the 2 in 1 printing, created on the memory (refer to FIG. 4).Concretely speaking, when the image priority case is selected, thepartial image area is accommodated into the corresponding page area(half page) of the imaginary area as it is, without changing its size(the variable magnification factor; 100%). While, when the characterpriority case is selected, the reduction variable power processing isapplied to the partial image area by employing the variablemagnification factor of 70%, so as to accommodate the size-reducedpartial image area into the corresponding page area (half page) of theimaginary area.

Successively, the CPU 11 shifts the partial image area towards thecorner of the page space, which is not surrounded by the characters(Step S112). Further, the CPU 11 divides the partial character area intocharacter blocks for every range in which plural characters aresuccessively continued, and then, applies the variable power processingto each of the character blocks divided in advance so as to arrange theprocessed (size-changed) character blocks within the area (residualarea), other than the partial image area, in the imaginary area to beused for the 2 in 1 printing (Step S113). At this time, the CPU 11 makesthe operating display section 16 display the print preview and theamount of charged fee thereon, so as to propose them to the userconcerned (Step S114).

Receiving the operation for approving the contents proposed to the user(depression of the implementation button 30) (Step S115; Yes), the CPU11 implements the copy printing operation concerned (Step S123), andconducts the print fee processing for the copy printing operationimplemented in the above, and after that, finalizes the copy processing(END). On the other hand, when receiving the operation for disapprovingthe proposed contents (depression of the cancel button 31) (Step S115;No), the CPU 11 divides the partial character area into character imagesfor every character, in order to apply the re-layout processing to thepartial character area.

Still successively, the CPU 11 calculates the area (residual area),other than the partial image area, in the imaginary area to be used forthe 2 in 1 printing, namely, the area being arrangeable for the partialcharacter area (Step S116). Further, the CPU 11 divides the calculatedarea by the total number of characters included in the concerned twopages of the document, which are to be integrated by the 2 in 1 printprocessing, so as to calculate an arranging area per one character image(Step S117). Then, the CPU 11 applies the variable power processing toeach of the character images so as to match its size with the arrangingarea per one character image, and embeds each of the character imagesinto each of the arranging areas in the corresponding page of theimaginary area (Step S118).

When all of the character images can be accommodated into the pageconcerned (Step S119; Yes), the CPU 11 shifts the processing to StepS121. On the other hand, when some character images cannot beaccommodated into the page concerned (Step S119; No), the CPU 11 movesthe concerned character images to the next page so as to arrange theminto the corresponding positions therein (Step S120), and then, shiftsthe processing to Step S121.

In Step S121, the CPU 11 proposes the print preview in which the partialcharacter area is rearranged by performing the re-layout processing andthe revised charge fee. When receiving the operation for approving theproposed contents (depression of the implementation button 30) (StepS121; Yes), the CPU 11 implements the copy printing operation concerned(Step S123), and conducts the print fee processing for the copy printingoperation implemented in the above, and after that, finalizes the copyprocessing (END). On the other hand, when receiving the operation fordisapproving the proposed contents (depression of the cancel button 31)(Step S121; No), the CPU 11 finalizes the copy processing withoutimplementing the copy printing operation concerned (END).

As described in the foregoing, the copier 10, embodied in the presentinvention, performs such the image processing (partially separated imageprocessing) that the CPU 11, serving as the control section, detects thepartial image area and the partial character area, which are included intwo pages of the document to be processed in the 2 in 1 printprocessing, and then, changes the sizes of the partial image area andthe partial character area with the variable magnification factors beingdifferent from each other, respectively, so as to accommodate andarrange them within the imaginary area being equivalent to one pagearea. Concretely speaking, the size of the partial image area is changedby employing a variable magnification factor (100% or 70%), beinggreater than the reduction factor (50%) to be employed for the documentimage, so as to arrange the size-changed partial image area into theimaginary area, prior to the partial character area. Then, the CPU 11changes the size of the partial character area, so as to accommodate andarrange the size-changed partial character area within the residualarea, other than the partial image area arranged in advance. Accordingto the partially separated image processing performed in the above, itbecomes possible to prevent the size-reduced partial image area, thesize of which is reduced from that of the original document in the 2 in1 printing operation, from deterioration of the perceptibility thereof.Specifically in the FIRST EMBODIMENT, when the image priority case isselected, the CPU 11 sets the variable magnification factor of thepartial image area at 100% so as to maintain its size as it is.Accordingly, since the original size of the partial image area is notreduced, but is kept constant as it is in the 2 in 1 integrated imagearea, even if the original size of the document image is reduced as awhole, and therefore, the deterioration of the perceptibility in thepartial image area, caused by the size reduction, does not occur. Inaddition, since the sizes of the partial image area and the partialcharacter area are changed by employing suitable variable magnificationfactors being equal to or different from each other, respectively, so asto accommodate them within the imaginary area and to arrange them atsuitable positions, it becomes possible to make the maneuverability ofthe copier 10 easy. Further, since the user can selects either the imagepriority case or the character priority case, it becomes possible toimprove its convenience for the user.

Further, according to the FIRST EMBODIMENT, by changing the size of thepartial image area with the predetermined variable magnification factorso as to arrange the size-changed partial image area into the imaginaryarea, prior to the partial character area, the residual area in theimaginary area, in which the partial character area is to be arranged,can be determined. Accordingly, it becomes possible to change the sizeof the partial character area and arrange the size-changed partialcharacter area so that it is accommodated within the residual areaabovementioned. Therefore, the aforementioned image processing can beperformed by employing such the simple algorism as abovementioned.

Still further, in the layout operation for the partial character area,the partial character area is divided into either the character blocksor the character images in a unit of either block or character, andthen, a size of each of them is changed by employing a suitable variablemagnification factor, so as to accommodate them within the residual areaof the imaginary area and to arrange them at suitable positions. Inother words, the partial character area, the shape of which is liable tobecome complicated, is divided into plural sections so as to heightenthe arrangement flexibility of them, and further, the size and positionof each of the divided sections are adjusted at the time when arrangingeach of them. By handling the partial character area in a state ofdivided sections as abovementioned, it becomes possible to easilyaccommodate it within the residual area remaining inside the imaginaryarea and to easily make its size larger, compared to the case in whichthe shape of the partial character area is maintained as it is. Further,when the partial character area is divided into plural character blocksin a unit of the block, since the layout of each of the charactersincluded in the partial character area is maintained for every block, itbecomes possible to suppress the deterioration of its appearance. Stillfurther, when the partial character area is divided into pluralcharacter images in a unit of the character, since the partial characterarea can be divided into plural sections being finer than those dividedin a unit of the block, it becomes possible to heighten not only thearrangement flexibility of them, but also the layout-capability and theversatility of the partial character area, and further, it also becomespossible to cope with the partial character area having a highlycomplicated shape or the like, more flexibly than ever.

Further, in the charged copy service, the aforementioned imageprocessing including the 2 in 1 print processing is implemented in thecase that the amount of charged fee, which is to be charged when thecopy printing operation based on the image data read from the documentis implemented according to the copy mode established by the user, isgreater than the upper limit value of charged fee inputted by the user.According to the FIRST EMBODIMENT of the present invention, only byconducting simple operations, it becomes possible for the user toeliminate such the deterioration of the perceptibility in regard to thedocument image to be processed in the 2 in 1 print processing due to theabovementioned shortage of the money amount. Still further, even in sucha case that the aforementioned image processing including the 2 in 1print processing is implemented so as to suppress the toner consumptionwhen the residual amount of toner has become short, it becomes possiblefor the user to eliminate the deterioration of the perceptibility inregard to the document image to be processed in the 2 in 1 printprocessing, only by conducting simple operations.

Although the FIRST EMBODIMENT of the present invention has beendescribed in the foregoing, the scope of the present invention is notlimited to the FIRST EMBODIMENT. Modifications and/or additions made bya skilled person without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention shall be included in the scope of the present invention.

For instance, the method for reducing the size of the image (documentimage) is not limited to the aforementioned reduction method (reductionvariable power processing) to be implemented in the 2 in 1 printingdescribe in the FIRST EMBODIMENT. Other than the reduction variablepower processing, various kinds of methods, such as a method forreducing the size of the image by employing an independent variablepower function in which the vertical length and the horizontal length ofthe image concerned can be separately changed by employing the variablemagnification factors being independent from each other, another methodfor reducing the size of the image by changing a vertical/horizontalratio such as changing the B4 size to the legal size or the letter sizeor the like, still another method for reducing the size of the image bychanging a shape of the image such as changing a rectangular image to asquare or elliptical image being smaller than the original rectangularimage or the like, etc., can be employed for this purpose.

Still further, the purpose of reducing the size of the image is notlimited to the use of the 2 in 1 printing described in the FIRSTEMBODIMENT. It is also applicable that the reduction variable powerprocessing or the like is applied to another kind of integrationprinting, such as the 4 in 1 printing, etc., or the usage of the variouskinds of variable power functions in which the user designates thevariable magnification factor and/or the fixed size to conduct thevariable power processing. In this connection, it is also applicablethat, when applied to the variable power functions abovementioned, asdescribed in the FIRST EMBODIMENT, the variable magnification factor ofthe partial image area or the partial character area is automaticallydetermined corresponding to the result of selecting either the imagepriority case or the character priority case.

Still further, although the image processing (partially separated imageprocessing) is implemented only when the amount of fee to be charged forthe actual use of the copy printing service exceeds the upper limitvalue of charged fee desired by the user in the above-described FIRSTEMBODIMENT, the scope of the condition for implementing the imageprocessing is not limited to the above. For instance, it is alsoapplicable that the image processing is implemented when the uservoluntary uses the integration printing function, or the variable powerfunction abovementioned, etc. In this case, as described in the FIRSTEMBODIMENT, it is also applicable that the variable magnification factorof the partial image area or the partial character area is automaticallydetermined corresponding to the result of selecting either the imagepriority case or the character priority case, as well.

Still further, in the FIRST EMBODIMENT, the size of the partial imagearea is changed first by employing the predetermined variablemagnification factor, so as to arrange it into the imaginary area priorto the partial character area, and then, the variable power processingis applied to the partial character area so as to accommodate it intothe residual area remaining in the imaginary area, and further, thevariable magnification factor for the partial image area is set at 100%.Conversely, it is also applicable, however, that the size of the partialcharacter area is changed first by employing a predetermined variablemagnification factor, and then, the size of the partial image area ischanged by employing a variable magnification factor corresponding tothat for the partial character area, and/or the variable magnificationfactor for the partial character area is made to be higher than that forthe partial image area, and/or the variable magnification factor for thepartial character area is set at 100%. As mentioned in the FIRSTEMBODIMENT, it is also applicable that, as far as the copier 10 isconfigured to accept the selection of either the image priority case orthe character priority case, for instance, the variable magnificationfactor for the partial character area is set at 100% when the characterpriority case is selected, or the variable magnification factor for thepartial character area is set at 70% when the image priority case isselected, etc. In this case, it becomes possible to prevent the partialcharacter area from the deterioration of the perceptibility.

Still further, in the case that the size of the partial character areais changed first by employing a predetermined variable magnificationfactor, and then, the size of the partial image area is changed byemploying a variable magnification factor corresponding to that for thepartial character area, the processing procedures indicated as followsare applicable. For instance, the variable magnification factor for thepartial character area is determined corresponding to the result ofselecting either the image priority case or the character priority case,so as to find a character arranging area necessary for the case that thesize of the partial character area is changed by employing theabove-determined variable magnification factor to arrange the partialcharacter area into the imaginary area. Then, the residual area, namely,an arranging area for the partial image area (an image arranging area),is derived by subtracting the character arranging area from theimaginary area. Successively, a variable magnification factor of thepartial image area, which makes the image arranging area whilemaintaining the vertical/horizontal ratio of the partial image area, isfound. Then, the partial image area is arranged at an arbitral positionwithin the imaginary area (in the case of the 2 in 1 printing, anarbitral position within a half page area concerned), and the partialcharacter area is arranged into an area other than the partial imagearea. In this case, it is also applicable that the partial characterarea is divided into plural blocks or plural characters in a unit ofblock or character so as to arrange them into the corresponding areas,as well. Further, when the partial image area is large, it is applicablethat a kind of regulation is applied to the abovementioned arrangingoperation. For instance, the regulation is such that the area occupiedby the size-reduced partial character area acquired by applying the sizereduction processing does not become equal to or smaller than ⅓ of theother area occupied by the original partial character area, etc.

Second Embodiment

Next, referring to FIG. 10 through FIG. 15, the SECOND EMBODIMENT of thepresent invention will be detailed in the following.

By executing corresponding one of the programs, the CPU 11 compares anamount of copy charge, to be charged at the time when the copy printingoperation established from the operating display section 16 isimplemented, and the upper limit of money amount, inputted by the user,with each other. When the amount of copy charge is greater than theupper limit of money amount as a result of the above comparison, the CPU11 conduct a predetermined image processing so as to create a printpreview that suppress the amount of copy charge to a level equal to orlower than the upper limit of money amount, and to make the operatingdisplay section 16 display the print preview thereon. In theabovementioned operation for creating and displaying the print preview,the CPU 11 detects the attributes of each of the pages included in thedocument image represented by the image data acquired by the scannersection 17, and based on the detected attributes, selects specific pagessuitable for applying a predetermined image processing from the pagesincluded in the document image, so as to apply the predetermined imageprocessing to the selected pages concerned. In addition, the CPU 11 alsoserves as a detecting section not only for detecting the partialcharacter area and the partial image area included in each of the pagesincluded of the document, but also for detecting the attributes of eachof them. Further, the CPU 11 conducts the abovementioned detectingoperation by employing the general purpose algorism for analyzingcontents of the image data so as to discriminate data of the partialcharacter area and other data of the partial image area from each other,etc. In this connection, the partial image area represents a schematicdiagram (such as a graph, a drawing, a picture, etc.), a photographicimage, etc.

Concretely speaking, hereinafter, the predetermined image processing isdefined as any one of: the integration processing (N in 1 printprocessing) in the integration printing function, a duplex printprocessing in the duplex printing function, a print density loweringprocessing in the toner saving function, etc., wherein the copier 10 isprovided with those functions as the printing function. The integrationprocessing to be employed in the SECOND EMBODIMENT includes the 2 in 1print processing, the 4 in 1 print processing and the 8 in 1 printprocessing.

When the predetermined image processing is applied so as to reduce theamount of copy fee to be charged to the copy printing operation, thereduction of the copy fee is achieved by reducing the number of printedpaper sheets in the integration processing or the duplex printprocessing, or by suppressing (saving) the toner consumption amount bylowering the print density in the print density lowering processing. Inthis connection, it is desirable that an appropriate system for chargingthe copy fee, complying with the current amount of toner consumption, inthe toner saving function.

Further, it is also applicable that the predetermined image processingis performed at the time when the residual amount of toner, detected bythe toner residual amount detecting section 22 of the printer section19, is lower than a predetermined lower limit. In this connection, forinstance, the suppression of the toner consumption amount is achieved bythe reduction of the number of printed paper sheets in the integrationprocessing or the duplex print processing, or by suppressing (saving)the toner consumption amount by lowering the print density in the printdensity lowering processing. Further, hereinafter, the predeterminedimage processing mentioned in the above is also referred to as the“image change processing”.

The term of “attributes” is to be used for determining the page, whichis suitable for the image change processing abovementioned, and includessuch attributes that belong to the image itself described in each of thepages, namely, the attributes of the contents of description(description information) themselves. Concretely speaking, theabovementioned attributes includes attributes of the partial characterarea and/or attributes of the partial image area, residing in the pageconcerned. Further, the attributes of the partial character arearepresent a size of characters (Font Size), a color, a density, etc.Still further, the other attributes of the partial image area representa kind of image (such as, a schematic diagram, a photographic image,etc.), a size, a color, a density, etc.

Further, the CPU 11 also determines a priority order of the pages towhich the image change processing is to be applied on the basis of theattributes. The whole attributes is constituted by plural kinds ofattributes as abovementioned, and accordingly, the priority order isdetermined by weighting the plural kinds of attributes in advance,corresponding to the contents of the image change processing. Further,when conducting the integration print processing and/or the duplexprocessing, in which plural pages are regarded as one set of processingobjects, the CPU 11 determines a page, which is suitable for the imagechange processing, by regarding the combination of the attributes ofeach of the plural pages as one of the criteria.

In this connection, it is also applicable that the image processingsection 18, other than the CPU 11, conducts the image change processingabovementioned, or takes partial charge of it.

Still further, at a predetermined timing when the copy-printed papersheet (print product) is ejected from the copier 10, the CPU 11transmits a charging signal to the fee charge apparatus 50 through thecommunication section 21. For instance, when an ejecting paper sheetcounter, mounted in the vicinity of a paper sheet ejecting opening of anejecting tray (not shown in the drawings), detects the paper sheet, theCPU 11 is triggered to transmit the charging signal. On the other hand,receiving the charging signal from the copier 10, the fee chargeapparatus 50 charges the copy fee.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic diagram indicating an example of a conditiontable 60 stored in the non-volatile storage 15. The condition table 60is such a table in which conditions for determining the page, which issuitable for the image change processing abovementioned, are registered.Herein, the condition table 60 to be employed for the 2 in 1 printprocessing is exemplified for explaining use.

In the 2 in 1 print processing when the size of the document and thesize of the printed paper sheet are the same as each other, the imagesize for 1 page is reduced to that of 0.7 times of the original size ofthe document (variable magnification factor; 70%, area ratio; 50%).Accordingly, there is a fear that characters have been hardlyperceptible due to the reduced small size and/or the smudges of thecharacters. Further, when including the partial image area, there isanother fear that an image has been hardly perceptible due to thereduced small size, as well, or some defect of the image has occurred.To avoid such the deficiencies, a page, which fulfills such conditionsthat the size of characters included in the partial character area ofthe page (Font Size) is equal to or greater than a certain fixed size,and when including the partial image area, the size of the concernedimage is equal to or greater than another certain fixed size, etc., issuitable for the 2 in 1 print processing.

Further, in the size reduction processing of the partial image area,depending on the kind of image data or the deference of the amount ofinformation, sometimes, a certain difference between a way of emergingdefect in the information and another way of emerging defect in theother information could be recognized, even if the sizes of bothinformation are reduced by employing the same variable magnificationfactor. For instance, since the amount of information included in thephotographic image is generally greater than that of the schematicdiagram, etc., defect in the information of the photographic imagepossibly becomes great, compared to that included in the otherinformation.

Still further, when the 2 in 1 print processing is applied to thedocument so as to reduce the amount of charged fee, and when the colorpage and the black and white page are processed into one page as theresult of performing the 2 in 1 printing, the copy fee of the one pageconcerned is calculated as the color page. Accordingly, this hardlycontributes the reduction of the amount of charged fee.

As described in the foregoing, the 2 in 1 print processing is such animage processing that reduces the size of the image itself included ineach of the two pages selected as a set of processing objects. Further,in the condition table for the 2 in 1 print processing, a plurality ofconditions corresponding to the contents of the processing, namely,considering influence to the abovementioned image quality, caused by theprocessing concerned, and effect for the reduction of the amount ofcharged fee, are registered. Still further, the conditions are describedby employing the attributes aforementioned.

As shown in FIG. 10, weighted plural conditions (attributes) areregistered in the condition table 60. Concretely speaking, the weightedplural conditions, including the conditions that make the image changeprocessing (the 2 in 1 print processing in this SECOND EMBODIMENT)disabled (disabling conditions) and the other conditions that make theimage change processing unsuitable (unsuitable conditions), areregistered. In the rank of weighting, the disabling conditions areweighted at the heaviest rank, while the unsuitable conditions areweighted in accordance with the contents of the processing associatedwith the priority orders, respectively.

In the SECOND EMBODIMENT, the disabling conditions are respectively setat the font size and the image size, influence degrees of which are thehighest for the image quality.

With respect to the font size, a threshold value is established so as tomaintain the size of the characters at a value equal to or greater thanthe fixed size, even if the size of the characters is reduced to that of0.7 times of the original size of the document. Although it is possibleto establish the threshold value at an arbitral value, it is preferablethat the threshold value is set at, for instance, 10 Point or more, soas to maintain the font size of 7 Point even after the size reductionprocessing. In this SECOND EMBODIMENT, the threshold value of the fontsize is set at 10 Point, and further, one of the disabling conditions isestablished as “MINIMUM FONT SIZE OF CHARACTERS INCLUDED IN CONCERNEDPAGE IS SMALLER THAN 10 POINT”.

As well as the above, with respect to the image size, a threshold valueis established so as to maintain the size of the image at a value equalto or greater than the fixed size, even if the size of the partial imagearea is reduced to that of 0.7 times of the original size of thedocument. Although it is also possible to establish the threshold valueat an arbitral value, it is preferable that the threshold value is setat, for instance, ¼ of the document size, etc., and when A4 size isemployed, at 75 mm x 50 mm, etc. In this SECOND EMBODIMENT, thethreshold value of the image size is set at 75 mm x 50 mm, and further,another one of the disabling conditions is established as “MINIMUM SIZEOF IMAGE INCLUDED IN CONCERNED PAGE IS SMALLER THAN 75 mm x 50 mm”.

Further in the SECOND EMBODIMENT, the unsuitable conditions areestablished with respect to a combination of page colors (color andmonochrome), a presence or absence of the partial image area, a kind ofimage (photographic image or schematic diagram), etc., and arerespectively weighted, associated with the priority orders. Although itis possible to establish a weighted value of each of the conditions atan arbitral value, in this embodiment, the combination of page colors,which hardly contributes to the reduction of the amount of charged fee,is ranked at the heaviest weight position, and the presence or absenceof the partial image area is ranked at the weight position being next tothe heaviest weight position abovementioned. Further, with respect tothe partial image area, corresponding to the difference between theinformation amounts, the weighted value, in the case that the partialimage area includes a photographic image, is ranked at the relativelyheavier weight position, and the other weighted value, in the other casethat the partial image area includes a schematic diagram, is ranked atthe weight position being next to the relatively heavier weight positionabovementioned (namely, weighted value of photographic image>weightedvalue of schematic diagram). Concretely speaking, among the unsuitableconditions for the image change processing, the first priority order isgiven to the first unsuitable condition of “PAGES BEING ADJACENT TO EACHOTHER ARE COLOR IMAGE AND MONOCHROME IMAGE, RESPECTIVELY”, while thesecond priority order is given to the second unsuitable condition of“PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE IS INCLUDED IN CONCERNED PAGE”, and the thirdpriority order is given to the third unsuitable condition of “SCHEMATICDIAGRAM IS INCLUDED IN CONCERNED PAGE”.

Still further, when the schematic diagram includes some characters, thefont size determined by the abovementioned unsuitable conditions is alsoapplied to the characters included in the schematic diagram concerned.For instance, when the minimum font size of characters included in theschematic diagram is smaller than 10 Point, the concerned charactersfall under the unsuitable condition.

Still further, it is applicable that the abovementioned various kinds ofconditions and waited ranking positions are established in advance, andthe font size and/or the threshold value are settable for the supervisoror the like.

According to the condition table 60 abovementioned, the pages that fallunder any one of the disabling conditions are excluded from theprocessing objects. Further, the other pages that only fall under atleast one of the unsuitable conditions are excluded from the processingobjects in order of the priority order of the unsuitable conditionconcerned, higher the first. Accordingly, the higher the priority orderof the unsuitable condition under which the page does not fall, thehigher the priority order of the processing that is to be applied to thepage concerned.

Although the condition table for the 2 in 1 print processing isexemplified in the foregoing, similar kinds of condition tables are alsoprepared for the 4 in 1 print processing, the 8 in 1 print processing,the duplex printing, and the print density lowering processing, as well.

For instance, in the condition table to be employed for the 4 in 1 printprocessing and/or the 8 in 1 print processing, it is possible to set thefont size and the image size at values being changed from thoseestablished in the condition table for the 2 in 1 print processing,while making the unsuitable conditions same as those for the conditiontable for the 2 in 1 print processing, etc. In the 4 in 1 printprocessing, when the size of the document and the printing size is thesame as each other, by applying the 4 in 1 print processing to thedocument images, the size of the processed images are reduced to 0.5times of the original size (variable magnification factor; 50%, arearatio; 25%). Accordingly, the threshold value of the font size may beset at 14 Point, etc., due to the same reason for the 2 in 1 printprocessing. Further, the threshold value of the image size is set at ½,etc. of the document size, and when the A4 size is employed, it may beset at 105 mm×70 mm, etc. Still further, corresponding to the printingsize (paper sheet size), it may be possible to change the thresholdvalue of the image size as needed.

The duplex print processing is such a processing that is to be appliedto two pages as a set of processing objects and does not change the sizeof the image itself included in the page. It is applicable that acombination of page colors, etc., is registered as the disablingcondition or the unsuitable condition in the condition table for theduplex print processing. Further, the print density lowering processingis such a processing that is to be applied for lowering the density ofprinted image, so as to suppress the toner consumption amount in theprinting operation. It is applicable that, in the condition table forthe print density lowering processing, a threshold value of the minimumdensity of the image itself included in the page concerned is registeredas the disabling condition, while the presence or absence of the partialimage area or a kind of the partial image area, etc., is registered asthe unsuitable condition.

Next, the operations to be conducted in the copier 10 will be detailedin the following.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart indicating a processing flow as a main routineof the copy printing operation. When the copier 10 is activated, the CPU11 starts the processing flow (START). When implementing the copyprinting operation for making a print product from the document, theuser of the copy service inputs setting items in regard to the printing,such as a number of copies, a printed image quality, a printing size (asize of output paper sheets), etc., into the copier 10 through theoperating display section 16, and further, inputs an upper limit ofmoney amount as the copy fee, desired by the user. Finalizing such theinitial inputting operations, the user makes the scanner section 17 ofthe copier 10 read the document concerned.

Successively, the CPU 11 accepts the setting items in regard to theprinting and the upper limit of money amount as the copy fee, bothinputted by the user through the operating display section 16 (StepS1101, Step S1102), and creates print image data, to be used for theprinting operation based on contents of the setting items inputted bythe user, from the image data read from the document concerned (StepS1103). After that, the CPU 11 calculates an actual amount of chargedfee (required amount of money or print fee), based on a kind of toner,an amount of toner, a number of printed paper sheets, etc., which are tobe used when the copy printing operation is actually implemented on thebasis of the setting items inputted by the user (Step S1104), andcompares the calculated print fee with the upper limit of money amountinputted by the user concerned, so as to determine whether or not thecalculated print fee is equal to or smaller than the upper limit ofmoney amount (Step S1105).

Successively, when determining that the calculated print fee is equal toor smaller than the upper limit of money amount (Step S1105; Yes), theCPU 11 implements the copy printing operation based on the image dataread from the original document, according to contents of the settingitems inputted by the user as it is (Step S1106), and conducts the printfee processing for the copy printing operation implemented in the above,and after that, finalizes the copy processing (END). On the other hand,when determining that the calculated print fee exceeds the upper limitof money amount (Step S1105; No), the CPU 11 enters into a subroutine toperform the image change processing for reducing the print fee to beactually charged (suppressing the print fee to an amount equal to orsmaller than the upper limit of money amount) (Step S1107). Then, theCPU 11 makes the operating display section 16 display a print preview,indicating a printout result when the image change processing isactually applied, so as to propose the print preview to the userconcerned (Step S1108).

When receiving the operation for approving the proposed contents of theprint preview (Step S1109; Yes), the CPU 11 implements the copy printingoperation concerned (Step S1106), and conducts the print fee processingfor the copy printing operation implemented in the above, and afterthat, finalizes the copy processing (END). On the other hand, withoutreceiving the operation for approving the proposed contents (Step S1109;No), when the CPU 11 receives the designation of a page to which theimage change processing is to be applied, from the user concerned (StepS1110; Yes), the CPU 11 applies the image change processing to thedesignated page (Step S1111), and then, returns to Step S1108 in orderto make the operating display section 16 display a print preview of theconcerned page to propose its print preview to the user concerned.Further, without receiving the designation of a page (Step S1110; No),when the CPU 11 receives the reentry of the upper limit of money amountfrom the user concerned (Step S1112; Yes), the CPU 11 returns to StepS1105. Still further, when a predetermined time has elapsed since theprint preview has been displayed, or when receiving the operation forcanceling the copy printing operation (Step S1112; No), the CPU 11finalizes the copy processing without implementing the copy printingoperation concerned (END).

In this connection, it is applicable, in the abovementioned copy printprocessing, that the CPU 11 makes the operating display section 16display the printout result to be outputted according to the contents ofsetting items established by the user as the print preview, even if theCPU 11 determines that the calculated print fee is equal to or smallerthan the upper limit of money amount (Step S1105; Yes). Further, it isalso applicable, in the above case, that the message of “PRINTINGOPERATION IS IMPLEMENTED ACCORDING TO CONTENTS OF SETTING ITEMSESTABLISHED BY USER” or the like is displayed on the print preview inaddition to the printout result, so that the CPU 11 implements theprinting operation when receiving the operation for approving theproposed contents of the print preview including the message from theuser concerned.

In this connection, the image change processing for suppressing thecharged fee to a value being lower that the upper limit of money amountwill be detailed in the following. Further, the way of determining thepage being suitable for the image change processing and the details ofthe print preview will be also described by exemplifying the 2 in 1print processing.

For instance, it is assumed that the copy fee for A4 size in the copyprinting service is established as 10 yen per one sheet for monochromeimage and 20 yen per one sheet for color image. If the copy printingoperation, based on the A4 size document constituted by total 10 sheetsincluding 7 sheets of monochrome pages and 3 sheets of color pages, isimplemented according to the setting items, such as a number of copies;one copy and a printing size; A4 (output paper sheet size; A4), thecharged fee is calculated as 130 yen for one copy, namely, (10yen/sheet×7+20 yen/sheet×3)×1=130 yen. In the above case, when the userhas also inputted 100 yen as the upper limit of money amount, thecalculated charged fee exceeds the upper limit by 30 yen. When thecalculated charged fee exceeds the upper limit of money amount, the CPU11 of the copier 10 determines a number of pages to be employed for the2 in 1 print processing so as to reduce the charged fee to a value beingequal to or lower than the upper limit of money amount, based on themoney amount difference between the calculated charged fee and the upperlimit of money amount, the number of document paper sheets (the numberof monochrome pages and the number of color pages), the contents ofprint setting items (the number of copies, the printing size, etc.), thekind of toner, the amount of toner and the copy fee when the copyprinting operation is implement according to the print setting itemsinputted by the user concerned, etc.

When reducing the charged fee to a value being equal to or lower thanthe upper limit of money amount, considering the benefit of the serviceprovider (sale proceeds), it is preferable that the charged fee isdetermined as such a value that is equal to or lower than the upperlimit of money amount and is as nearer to the upper limit of moneyamount as possible. In the abovementioned case, in order to suppress thecharged fee to 100 yen being equal to the upper limit of money amount byreducing the number of printed paper sheets, it is necessary toeliminate either 3 printed sheets of monochrome pages, or 1 printedsheet of monochrome page and 1 printed sheet of color page. Accordingly,to achieve the abovementioned reduction processing only by employing themonochrome pages, it is necessary to apply either the 2 in 1 printprocessing to 6 monochrome pages or the 4 in 1 print processing to 4monochrome pages. In this SECOND EMBODIMENT, giving a priority to the 2in 1 print processing, the CPU 11 determines the 6 monochrome pages,namely, 3 pairs of two monochrome pages being adjacent to each other, asthe pages to which the 2 in 1 print processing is applied.

Successively, referring to the contents of the condition table 60, theCPU 11 selects the pages being suitable for the 2 in 1 print processing(refer to FIG. 10). In the above selection process, the CPU 11 excludesa page that falls under at least one of the disabling conditions fromthe processing objects, and determines the residual pages as thecandidates of the processing objects. Among the candidate pages, a pairof two pages that do not fall under the unsuitable condition ranked at ahigher priority position and are adjacent to each other ispreferentially selected as the processing object. Referring to adocument P shown in FIG. 11, this selecting procedure will be detailedin the following.

The document P exemplified in this FIRST EMBODIMENT is constituted bytotal 6 pages (6 sheets), the size of which are A4 size. A documentsheet p1, corresponding to the first page of the document P, includescharacters, the font size of which is 12 Point. A document sheet p2,corresponding to the second page of the document P, includes a graph,the size of which is equal to or larger than ¼ of the document sheetsize, and characters, the font size of which is 12 Point. A documentsheet p3, corresponding to the third page of the document P, includescharacters, the font size of which is 8 Point. A document sheet p4,corresponding to the fourth page of the document P, includes a colorimage, the size of which is smaller than ¼ of the document sheet size,and characters, the font size of which is 10 Point. A document sheet p5,corresponding to the fifth page of the document P, includes characters,the font size of which is 12 Point, as well as those of the documentsheet p1. A document sheet p6, corresponding to the sixth page of thedocument P, includes a color photographic image, the size of which isequal to or larger than ¼ of the document sheet size, and characters,the font size of which is 10 Point.

With respect to the document P, initially, the CPU 11 excludes the pagesthat fall under at least one of the disabling conditions registered inthe condition table 60 (refer to FIG. 10) from the processing objects.Herein, since the font size of the characters included in the documentsheet p3 is 8 Point, the document sheet p3 falls under the disablingcondition of “MINIMUM FONT SIZE OF CHARACTERS INCLUDED IN CONCERNED PAGEIS SMALLER THAN 10 POINT (THRESHOLD VALUE)”. Further, since the size ofthe image included in the document sheet p4 is smaller than ¼ of thedocument sheet size, the document sheet p4 falls under the disablingcondition of “MINIMUM SIZE OF IMAGE INCLUDED IN CONCERNED PAGE ISSMALLER THAN 75 mm x 50 mm” (¼ of A4 size is equal to 75 mm x 50 mm,serving as the THRESHOLD VALUE). Accordingly, the CPU 11 excludes thedocument sheet p3 and the document sheet p4, which fall under thedisabling conditions, from the processing objects, while, determines theresidual pages, which fall under none of the disabling conditions, asthe candidates of the processing objects.

Still successively, in order to determine whether or not the 2 in 1print processing can be applied to the residual pages, the CPU 11confirms whether or not at least one pair of two pages being adjacent toeach other (continued two pages) is included in the residual pages.Herein, since two pairs, including the pair of the document sheet p1 andthe document sheet p2 and the other pair of the document sheet p5 andthe document sheet p6, exist within the residual pages, the CPU 11determining that the 2 in 1 print processing is applicable for thiscase.

When two or more pairs of pages, being adjacent to each other, existwithin the residual pages, the CPU 11 verifies each of the concernedpages by referring to the unsuitable conditions, so as to determinewhich pare of the pages should be preferentially processed in the 2 in 1print processing. Herein, since the document sheet p1 and the documentsheet p5 fall under none of the unsuitable conditions, the highestpriority order of the processing object is given to them. However, sincethe document sheet p1 and the document sheet p5 are not adjacent to eachother, it is impossible to apply the 2 in 1 print processing to the pairof them. On the other hand, since the document sheet p2 includes thegraph, the document sheet p2 falls under the third unsuitable conditionof “SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM IS INCLUDED IN CONCERNED PAGE” to which the thirdpriority order is given. Further, since the document sheet p6 includesthe photographic image, the document sheet p6 falls under the secondunsuitable condition of “PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE IS INCLUDED IN CONCERNEDPAGE” to which the second priority order is given. Accordingly, the CPU11 determines that the document sheet p2 is more suitable for the 2 in 1print processing rather than the document sheet p6, since the documentsheet p2 falls under the third unsuitable condition being lower than thesecond unsuitable condition in the priority order, and furtherdetermines that the pair of the document sheet p1 and the document sheetp2 is most suitable for the 2 in 1 print processing within the documentP, and the pair of the document sheet p5 and the document sheet p6 issecondary suitable for the 2 in 1 print processing within the documentP, and selects the pair of the document sheet p1 and the document sheetp2 as the most-preferential processing object. Such the processingprocedure as described in the above is employed for selecting the pagesbeing suitable for the 2 in 1 print processing.

Still successively, the CPU 11 applies the 2 in 1 print processing tothe consecutive two pages selected from the document P, and makes theoperating display section 16 display its print preview thereon, so as topropose it to the user.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic diagram indicating an example of a previewscreen 40 to be displayed on the operating display section 16, whichincludes the print previews to be created by applying the 2 in 1 printprocessing to the document P. The preview screen 40 to be displayed onthe operating display section 16 includes a first page 41 and a secondpage 42 (corresponding to the first page and the second page of thedocument P in the SECOND EMBODIMENT) serving as the processing objectsof the 2 in 1 print processing, a 2 in 1 print-processed print preview43, a confirmation message 44 to confirm whether or not the userapproves the contents of the 2 in 1 print-processed print preview 43 asa result of the actual implementation of the 2 in 1 printing, animplementation button (OK button) 45 to accept an instruction forimplementing the 2 in 1 printing, a page designation button 46 to acceptan operation for designating the pages to which the 2 in 1 printprocessing is to be applied, a previous page button 47 to accept anoperation for shifting the page currently displayed on the previewscreen 40 to the previous page, and a next page button 48 to accept anoperation for shifting the page currently displayed on the previewscreen 40 to the next page. Further, in addition to the above, a copyfee (an amount of charged fee) to be charged after the 2 in 1 printprocessing is completed is also displayed on the preview screen 40.

When the implementation button 45 is depressed, the CPU 11 implementsthe copy printing operation according to the contents of the 2 in 1print-processed print preview 43. When the page designation button 46 isdepressed, the CPU 11 enters into a state of accepting the designationof pages to which the 2 in 1 print processing is to be applied.Successively, when the previous page button 47 is depressed in theabovementioned state, the CPU 11 sequentially shifts the first page 41and the second page 42, currently displayed on the preview screen 40 asthe current processing objects of the 2 in 1 print processing, to theprevious pages to be newly displayed. On the other hand, when the nextpage button 48 is depressed in the abovementioned state, the CPU 11sequentially shifts the first page 41 and the second page 42, currentlydisplayed on the preview screen 40 as the current processing objects ofthe 2 in 1 print processing, to the next pages to be newly displayed.

For instance, when the next page button 48 is depressed in the statethat the first page and the second page are displayed as shown in thisSECOND EMBODIMENT, the second page and the third page are displayed.Further, every time when the next page button 48 is depressed, thecurrent pair of pages displayed on the screen is sequentially changedone by one to the next pair of pages, such as the pair of the third pageand the fourth page, the pair of the fourth page and the fifth page, soon. In the same way, every time when the previous page button 47 isdepressed, the current pair of pages displayed on the screen issequentially changed one by one to the previous pair of pages in thereverse direction. In this connection, in such a case that the previouspage button 47 is depressed in the state that the first page and thesecond page are currently displayed as shown in this SECOND EMBODIMENT,it is applicable that the current pair of pages displayed on the screenis changed to the final pair of pages. Conversely, in such a case thatthe next page button 48 is depressed in the state that the final pair ofpages is currently displayed, it is applicable that the current pair ofpages displayed on the screen is changed to the leading pair of pages.

Still successively, the CPU 11 applies the 2 in 1 print processing tothe pair of pages designated by the operation of depressing the previouspage button 47 and/or the next page button 48, so as to make theoperating display section 16 display the 2 in 1 print-processed printpreview 43, thereon. Then, when the implementation button 45 isdepressed, the CPU 11 implements the copy printing operation accordingto the contents of the 2 in 1 print-processed print preview 43. In thiscase, the CPU 11 implements the 2 in 1 printing for the pair of twopages designated. In this connection, it is also applicable that acancel button to accept a canceling operation is displayed on thepreview screen 40, so that, when the cancel button is depressed, the CPU11 cancels the designation of the page, the 2 in 1 printing withoutimplementing it or the copy printing operation of the document P itself.

Further, the CPU 11 conducts the 2 in 1 print processing, the 4 in 1print processing, the 8 in 1 print processing, the duplex printprocessing and the print density lowering processing, which arecategorized in the image change processing, according to thepredetermined priority order, so as to make the amount of charged feebeing equal to or lower than the upper limit of money amount. Althoughthe predetermined priority order could be established as an arbitralorder, the copier 10 in this SECOND EMBODIMENT is so constituted thatthe CPU 11 conducts the abovementioned processing in order of the 2 in 1print processing→the 4 in 1 print processing→the 8 in 1 printprocessing→at least one of the duplex print processing and the printdensity lowering processing. Concretely speaking, when the calculatedamount of charged fee exceeds the upper limit of money amount inputtedby the user, at first, the CPU 11 determines whether it is possible orimpossible to reduce the calculated amount of charged fee to a valuebeing equal to or lower than the upper limit of money amount by applyingthe 2 in 1 print processing. When determining that it is impossible, theCPU 11 further determines whether it is possible or impossible byapplying the 4 in 1 print processing. When still determining that it isimpossible, the CPU 11 still further determines whether it is possibleor impossible by applying the 8 in 1 print processing. When yetdetermining that it is impossible even by applying any one of all of theN in 1 print processing, finally, the CPU 11 applies the at least one ofthe duplex print processing and the print density lowering processing tothe concerned pages as the other image change processing.

In the integration printing (N in 1 printing), the more the number ofpages to be integrated is, the smaller the number of printed papersheets to be outputted becomes. Accordingly, the reduction amount ofcharged fee, achieved by cutting the number of printed paper sheetsdown, is relatively great, and as a result, it becomes possible toreduce the amount of copy fee lower than ever. However, as a sideeffect, since the reduction factor of the image is set at a small value,the influence to the image quality becomes great. On the other hand,since the size of the image is not reduced in the duplex printprocessing, a little influence to the image quality would emerge as aresult of applying the duplex print processing, compared to a result ofapplying the integration print processing. However, it would beconsidered that most of all users preferentially select the one-sideprint processing. Further, since the size of the image is not reduced inthe print density lowering processing, a little influence to the imagequality would emerge as a result of applying the print density loweringprocessing, as well. However, there is a possibility that the user wouldworry about the influence to the image quality caused by lowering theprint density. Considering the abovementioned factors, it is preferablethat the priority order of the various kinds of processing categorizedin the image change processing is established as the similar manner asaforementioned. Further, when the print fee to be charged to the duplexprinting is set at a value cheaper than that to be charged to the 2 in 1printing, or when the effect of lowering the amount of the print fee byreducing the amount of toner consumption is great, etc., it is morepreferable that the priority order of the various kinds of processing isestablished as the same as aforementioned.

Further, when the difference between the amount of the print fee and theupper limit of money amount is great, the possibility for employingeither the 4 in 1 print processing or the 8 in 1 print processing, whichcan drastically reduce the amount of the print fee, becomes high. Inthis case, it would possibly occur that a considerable deterioration ofthe image quality, being unacceptable for the user, such as a defect ofthe information being important for the user, a deteriorated appearancebeing hardly visible for the user, or the like, is generated in theoutputted print product. In case that, as a result of applying the imagechange processing, it is impossible not only to avoid the deteriorationof the image quality, but also to acquire the image quality desired bythe user, when the upper limit of money amount inputted by the user isemployed, it is applicable that the resulted image of applying the imagechange processing (print preview) and a warning message, indicating suchas “WITH RESPECT TO **, ITS QUALITY IS LOWER THAN ACCEPTABLE QUALITY” or“WITH RESPECT TO **, ITS QUALITY LEVEL IS LOWER THAN STANDARD LEVEL”, orthe like, are displayed in the preview screen 40. Then, when the userapproves the contents of the preview screen 40 proposed by the copier10, it is applicable that the user conducts the inputting operation forimplementing the copy printing operation in accordance with the settingitems of the preview screen 40, while when the user disapproves thecontents of the preview screen 40 due to the deterioration of the imagequality, it is applicable that the user conducts operations for reentryof the upper limit of money amount or reapplication of the image changeprocessing.

Next, referring to FIG. 13, the image change processing, serving as theaforementioned subroutine of the copy print processing, will be detailedin the following. Hereinafter, the outline and the details of the imagechange processing will be described successively and stepwise in thefollowing. In this connection, in the image change processing, the CPU11 retrieves a specific N-in-1 print processing, which makes it possibleto reduce the amount of charged fee to a value being equal to or lowerthan the upper limit of money amount, from the plural kinds ofintegration print processing abovementioned, in order of the number ofpages to be integrated, the smallest first. Further, when it isimpossible to retrieve the specific N-in-1 print processing forachieving the abovementioned goal, the CPU 11 employs the other imagechange processing (the duplex print processing or the print densitylowering processing) to cope with the abovementioned goal.

FIG. 14 shows a flowchart indicating a rough processing flow of theimage change processing. Starting the image change processing, the CPU11 detects the attributes of each of the pages based on the image dataread from the document by the scanner section 17 (Step S1121).Successively, the CPU 11 checks the attributes of each of the pagesagainst the disabling conditions registered in the condition table 60,so as to determine whether or not each of the pages falls under at leastone of the disabling conditions (conditional judgment of 2 in 1 printprocessing for each page) (Step S1122).

When determining that specific pages fall under none of the disablingconditions, namely, the specific pages are processable in the 2 in 1print processing (Step S1123; Yes), the CPU 11 further checks theattributes of each of the specific pages against the unsuitableconditions registered in the condition table 60, so as to select a pairof two consecutive pages, which is optimum to be processed in the 2 in 1print processing (Step S1124). Then, the CPU 11 applies the 2 in 1 printprocessing to the selected pair of two consecutive pages (Step S1125).Successively, when determining that the amount of charged fee afterprocessing is equal to or lower than the upper limit of money amount(Step S1126; Yes), the CPU 11 returns the processing to the mainroutine, while when determining that the amount of charged fee afterprocessing still exceeds the upper limit of money amount (Step S1126;Yes), the CPU 11 returns the processing to the Step S1123.

On the other hand, when determining that all of the pages fall under atleast one of the disabling conditions, namely, none of the pages areprocessable in the 2 in 1 print processing (Step S1123; No), the CPU 11quits applying the 2 in 1 print processing to the pages concerned, butapplies the other N in 1 print processing, namely, either the 4 in 1print processing or the 8 in 1 print processing (Step S1127). Whenapplying either the 4 in 1 print processing or the 8 in 1 printprocessing, the CPU 11 refers to a condition table corresponding toeither the 4 in 1 print processing or the 8 in 1 print processing.Successively, when determining that the amount of charged fee after theother N in 1 print processing has been applied is equal to or lower thanthe upper limit of money amount (Step S1128; Yes), the CPU 11 returnsthe processing to the main routine, while when determining that theamount of charged fee after the other N in 1 print processing has beenapplied still exceeds the upper limit of money amount (Step S1128; No),the CPU 11 applies the other image change processing, namely, at leastone of the duplex print processing or the print density loweringprocessing, to the document image data (Step S1129), and then, returnsthe processing to the main routine (RETURN). When applying either theduplex print processing or the print density lowering processing, theCPU 11 refers to a condition table corresponding to either the duplexprint processing or the print density lowering processing.

In the foregoing, the outline of the image change processing has beendescribed.

FIG. 15 shows a flowchart indicating a detailed processing flow of theimage change processing. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 15, the N in 1print processing described in the processing steps from Step S1122 toStep S1127 indicated in the rough flow shown in FIG. 14, specificallydescribed in the “selection of optimum pair of pages” of Step S1124, isdetailed.

In this flowchart, as described in Step S1122 shown in FIG. 14,initially, the CPU 11 excludes the pages that falls under the disablingconditions registered in the condition table 60 from all of the pagesincluded in the document. Further, when the residual pages includes thespecific pages, which are processable in the N in 1 print processing,and if the specific pages constitutes a set of pages (namely,consecutive N pages only constitutes a single set of consecutive Npages), the concerned set of pages is made to be the processing object.When the specific pages constitutes plural sets of pages, the CPU 11checks the attributes of each of the pages included in the plural setsof pages against the unsuitable conditions registered in the conditiontable 60 in order of the priorities of them, highest first, so as tosequentially exclude the pages that fall under any one of the unsuitableconditions, and then, if a specific set of pages remains without beingexcluded, the CPU 11 select the specific set of pages as the one optimumfor the processing object. When remaining sets of pages disappear at atime due to a specific unsuitable condition in the mid course ofpriority order, the CPU 11 sequentially checks the attributes of eachpage, included in the remaining sets of pages just before disappearanceof them, against other unsuitable conditions, in order from anunsuitable condition, the priority which is lower than that of thespecific unsuitable condition and positioned next to it, so as tosequentially exclude the pages that fall under any one of the otherunsuitable conditions, as well as the above, and then, if a specific setof pages remains without being excluded, the CPU 11 selects the specificset of pages as the one optimum for the processing object.

In case that the remaining sets of pages disappear at a time due to anunsuitable condition ranked at the lowest priority position, the CPU 11selects a single set of consecutive N pages having the smallest pagenumbers among the remaining sets of pages, which finally disappear, asthe processing object. Further, in case that some sets of pages stillremain even after checking them against the unsuitable condition rankedat the lowest priority position, the CPU 11 selects a single set ofconsecutive N pages having the smallest page numbers among the remainingsets of pages, which finally remain, as the processing object.

Further, when the amount of charged fee, calculated after the N in 1print processing is applied to the single set of pages, exceeds theupper limit of money amount, all of the pages excluded by then (pages towhich the N in 1 print processing have not been applied) are recovered,so as to repeat the operation for retrieving again a single set ofconsecutive N pages, which is optimum for the N in 1 print processing,from the recovered pages, until the calculated amount of charged fee isreduced to a value being equal to or smaller than the upper limit ofmoney amount. When none of the recovered pages are processable in the Nin 1 print processing, the CPU 11 shifts the current N in 1 printprocessing to the next one (2 in 1 print processing→4 in 1 printprocessing→8 in 1 print processing), and further, shifts to the otherimage change processing. Further, herein, an exemplary case in whichfive unsuitable conditions respectively having priority orders 1 through5 are registered in the condition table 60 will be detailed in thefollowing.

After starting the image change processing and detecting the attributesof each of the pages based on the image data read from the document bythe scanner section 17 (Step S1131), the CPU 11 sets a variable N,indicating a kind of the N in 1 print processing (number of pages to beintegrated), at 2, and sets a variable M, indicating a priority order ofeach of the unsuitable conditions registered in the condition table 60,at 0 (zero) (Step S1132).

Successively, the CPU 11 checks the attributes of each of the pagesincluded in the document against the disabling conditions registered inthe condition table 60 for the N in 1 print processing (at first, thecondition table 60 for the 2 in 1 print processing), so as to excludepages that fall under at least one of the disabling conditions from allof the pages included in the document (Step S1133), and then, determineswhether or not at least a set of consecutive N pages is included in theremaining pages (at first, a pair of consecutive two pages) (StepS1134). When determining that at least a set of consecutive N pages isincluded in the remaining pages, the CPU 11 establishes the concernedset of consecutive N pages as a candidate of the processing object (StepS1135), and then, further, determines whether or not two or more sets ofconsecutive N pages are included in the remaining pages (Step S1136).

Still successively, when determining that two or more sets ofconsecutive N pages are included in the remaining pages (Step S1136;Yes), the CPU 11 further determines whether the variable M is equal to 5or smaller than 5 (Step S1137). When determining that the variable M issmaller than 5 (Step S1137; No), the CPU 11 adds 1 to the variable M, tocheck the attributes of each of the candidate pages against theunsuitable condition ranked at the priority order M (=M+1), so as toselect a concerned page (Step S1139). In this connection, if none of thepages fall under the unsuitable condition ranked at the priority orderM, the operation for selecting the concerned page is not performed.

Still successively, excluding the selected pages, the CPU 11 determineswhether or not one or more set(s) of consecutive N pages is/are includedin the remaining pages (Step S1140). When determining that no set ofconsecutive N pages is included in the remaining pages (Step S1140),namely, all of the sets of candidate pages have disappeared, the CPU 11clears the operation for selecting the concerned page, and returns theprocessing to Step S1137 (Step S1141).

When determining that the variable M is still smaller than 5 (StepS1137; No), the CPU 11 again adds 1 to the variable M, and then, repeatsthe processing from Step S1139 to the later steps. Accordingly, when allof the sets of consecutive N pages disappear at an unsuitable conditionranked at a specific priority order in a mid course of searching out aset of consecutive N pages, being optimum for the image changeprocessing, from the plural sets of consecutive N pages remained byexcluding the pages that fall under the disabling conditions, the CPU 11sequentially conducts the matching determination processing for checkingthe remaining sets of pages just before disappearance of them againstunsuitable conditions, in order from the unsuitable condition ranked atthe next priority order.

On the other hand, in Step S1140, when determining that one or moreset(s) of consecutive N pages is/are included in the remaining pages(Step S1140; Yes), the CPU 11 excludes the selected pages (pages thatfall under the unsuitable condition ranked at the priority order M)(Step S1142), the CPU 11 returns the processing to Step S1135. Then, theCPU 11 establishes only the remaining pages as the candidates of theprocessing object, and conducts the processing after Step S1136.

In Step S1136, when determining that two or more sets of consecutive Npages are not included in the remaining pages (Step S1136; No), namely,when determining that only a single set of consecutive N pages isincluded in the remaining pages, the CPU 11 applies the N in 1 printprocessing to the concerned single set of consecutive N pages (StepS1143). According to above, when determining that at least a set ofconsecutive N pages is included in the residual pages remained byexcluding pages that fall under at least one of the disabling conditionsfrom all of the pages included in the document, and when only a singleset of consecutive N pages is included in the residual pages, the CPU 11applies the N in 1 print processing to this single set of consecutive Npages. On the other hand, when determining that plural sets ofconsecutive N pages are included in the remaining pages (Step S1136;Yes), the CPU 11 sequentially conducts the matching determinationprocessing for checking each of pages included in the plural sets ofconsecutive N pages against the unsuitable conditions, in order ofpriority orders of them, highest the first, so as to exclude the matchedpages one by one from the plural sets of consecutive N pages. If asingle set of consecutive N pages still remains as a result of theabovementioned processing, this set of consecutive N pages is determinedas the optimum one, to which the CPU 11 applies the N in 1 printprocessing.

In Step S1137, even when determining that the variable M is equal to 5(Step S1137; Yes), namely, even when the matching determinationprocessing is repeated up to an unsuitable condition, priority order ofwhich is ranked at the lowest position (in this SECOND EMBODIMENT, thefifth position), the CPU 11 implements the N in 1 print processing (StepS1143). In this case, since the plural sets of consecutive N pagesexist, the CPU 11 applies the N in 1 print processing to a single set ofconsecutive N pages, page numbers of which are the smallest compared tothose of other pages included in other sets of consecutive N pages,among the plural sets of consecutive N pages. According to the above,when all of the remaining plural sets of consecutive N pages havedisappeared at a time due to the unsuitable condition, priority order ofwhich is ranked at the lowest position, the CPU 11 applies the N in 1print processing to the single set of consecutive N pages, the pagenumbers of which are the smallest compared to those of the other pagesincluded in the other sets of consecutive N pages, among the plural setsof consecutive N pages, which finally disappeared. Further, when pluralsets of consecutive N pages still remain even checking them against theunsuitable condition, the priority order of which is ranked at thelowest position, the CPU 11 applies the N in 1 print processing to thesingle set of consecutive N pages, the page numbers of which are thesmallest compared to those of the other pages included in the other setsof consecutive N pages, among the plural sets of consecutive N pages,which finally remained.

Still successively, completing the N in 1 print processing, the CPU 11recalculates the amount of charged fee (Step S1144), and then,determines whether or not the recalculated amount of charged fee isequal to or smaller than the upper limit of money amount (Step S1145).When determining that the recalculated amount of charged fee is equal toor smaller than the upper limit of money amount (Step S1145; Yes), theCPU 11 returns the processing to the main routine (RETURN).

On the other hand, when determining that the recalculated amount ofcharged fee still exceeds the upper limit of money amount (Step S1145;No), the CPU 11 recovers all of the pages to which the N in 1 printprocessing has not been applied, and then, returns the processing toStep S1133 (Step S1146), so as to retrieve processing objective pages,which are suitable for the next N in 1 print processing, namely, asingle set of consecutive N pages, by repeating the processing stepsafter Step S1133. If the suitable pages are found out, the CPU 11applies the N in 1 print processing to the concerned single set ofconsecutive N pages, so as to further reduce the calculated amount ofcharged fee.

In Step S1134, when determining that no set of consecutive N pages isincluded in the remaining pages (Step S1134; No), the CPU 11 clears theN in 1 print processing if it has been applied to certain pages, andthen, recovers the all of the pages including the certain pages to whichthe N in 1 print processing has been already applied (Step S1147).Successively, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the variable N isequal to 8 (Step S1148). When determining that the variable N is notequal to 8 (Step S1148; No), the CPU 11 multiply the variable N by 2,sets the variable M at 0 (zero) and returns the processing to StepS1133. According to the above process, the operation for selecting pagesbeing suitable for the next N in 1 print processing and the N in 1 printprocessing for the selected pages are conducted, and if the amount ofcharged fee, calculated after the N in 1 print processing is completed,becomes equal to or smaller than the upper limit of money amount, theprocessing returns to the main routine. On the other hand, whendetermining that the variable N is equal to 8 (Step S1148; Yes), namely,when the N in 1 print processing has shifted up to the 8 in 1 printprocessing, the CPU 11 applies the other image change processing to thepages concerned (Step S1150), and returns the processing to the mainroutine (RETURN)

As described in the foregoing, according to the copier 10 embodied inthe present invention, the CPU 11 detects the attributes of each of thepages of the document, represented by the image data acquired byscanning the document, and based on the attributes detected in theabove, determines specific pages being suitable for applying apredetermined image processing (image change processing) among all ofthe pages included in the document, so as to apply the predeterminedimage processing to the specific pages. Accordingly, it becomes possibleto exclude such pages that are unsuitable for the predetermined imageprocessing due to the considerable deterioration of the image quality,caused by applying the concerned processing to images included in thepages. Therefore, it becomes possible for the user not only toautomatically determine the pages being suitable for the concernedprocessing, but also to automatically apply the predetermined imageprocessing to the pages, without conducting the operations for selectingthe processing objective pages, changing the setting items for the imageprocessing, etc.

Further, in this SECOND EMBODIMENT of the present invention, thepriority order of each of the pages being suitable for applying thepredetermined image processing is also determined on the basis of theaforementioned attributes. Concretely speaking, the CPU 11, serving as acontrol section of the copier 10, registers plural kinds of attributes,which are respectively weighted according to the contents of the imageprocessing to be applied, into the condition table 60, so as todetermine the priority order of each of the pages to be processed, basedon the weight of the attributes (disabling conditions and unsuitableconditions) registered in the condition table 60. Accordingly, whenplural pages are to be candidates of the processing objects, it becomespossible to sequentially apply the predetermined image processing to theplural pages in suitability order of them, the most suitable one first.Further, it also becomes possible to apply the predetermined imageprocessing to only the necessary pages. Still further, it also becomespossible to easily determine the priority order of each of the pages byusing the abovementioned condition table 60. When each of the pluralkinds of processing is conducted by changing them form one to another asshown in the SECOND EMBODIMENT of the present invention, it becomespossible to sequentially apply the predetermined image processing toeach of the pages in order from the one being more suitable than thenext one, by preparing the condition table 60 for every processing.

Still further, according to the SECOND EMBODIMENT of the presentinvention, when the user of the copy service conducts inputtingoperations for establishing the setting items and for inputting theupper limit of money amount, in regard to the desired printingoperation, the CPU 11 compares an amount of copy charge, to be chargedat the time when the copy printing operation is implemented on the basisof the setting items established by the user, and the upper limit ofmoney amount, inputted by the user, with each other, so that, when theamount of copy charge is greater than the upper limit of money amount asa result of the above comparison, the CPU 11 applies the predeterminedimage processing, which makes it possible to reduce the amount of copycharge by reducing the number of printed paper sheets and/or the amountof toner consumption, to the pages being suitable for this processing.Accordingly, when the predetermined image processing is implemented tocope with such the shortage of the money amount in the copy service asabovementioned, it becomes possible to easily determine the pages beingsuitable for the predetermined image processing concerned, withoutburdening the user with cumbersome operations. Still further, in thecase that the predetermined image processing is implemented so as tosuppress the amount of toner consumption at the time when the residualamount of toner becomes short, it becomes possible to easily determinethe pages being suitable for the predetermined image processingconcerned, without burdening the user with cumbersome operations, aswell.

In the foregoing, the SECOND EMBODIMENT of the present invention hasbeen described referring to the drawings. However, the scope of thepresent invention is not limited to the aforementioned SECONDEMBODIMENT. Modifications and/or additions made by a skilled personwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention shall beincluded in the scope of the present invention.

For instance, the scope of the predetermined image processing (imagechange processing) is not limited to the integration print processing,the duplex print processing and the print density lowering processing,exemplified in the SECOND EMBODIMENT of the present invention. It isalso applicable that the predetermined image processing also includesthe variable power processing for achieving the various kinds ofvariable power functions, by which an image size can be reducedaccording to the variable magnification factor and/or the fixed sizedesignated by the user, the resolution lowering processing forsuppressing the amount of toner consumption by lowering the resolutionof the image, etc.

Incidentally, in both the FIRST EMBODIMENT and the SECOND EMBODIMENT ofthe present invention, the scope of the objective image is not limitedto the document image, exemplified in both the embodiments. Forinstance, an image file, etc., based on which the integration printing,the variable power printing or the like is requested to be implementedfrom the personal computer, etc., which are coupled to the copier 10 sothat both can communicate with each other, is also applicable as theobjective image.

Further, other than the coin vender that accepts either a coin or apaper note as the charged money, any one of: a card vender that acceptsa prepaid card as the payment of the charged money; a counter device,such as a sheet counter that counts a number of printed paper sheets (anumber of printed paper sheets of one-side/both-side, a number ofprinted paper sheets of color/monochrome, etc.), a copy fee counter thatcounts printing fees, etc.; etc., is also applicable as the fee chargeapparatus 50.

Still further, it is needless to say that the LED (light Emitting Diode)printer in which the photoreceptor drum is scanned by the LED array,instead of the laser beam, or the other type of printer, such as theink-jet printer, the thermal transferring printer, etc., are alsoapplicable as the printer section 19 of the copier 10.

Yet further, the present invention is applicable not only for the fullcolor copier described in the embodiments of the present invention, butalso for various kinds of other type image forming apparatuses, such asa monochrome copier, a MPF (Multi Function Peripheral or Multi FunctionPrinter) serving as either a full color functional device or amonochrome functional device, etc.

According to the present invention, the following effects can beattained.

-   (1) According to the image processing apparatus embodied in the    present invention as FIRST EMBODIMENT, it becomes possible to    eliminate the deterioration of the perceptibility of the partial    image area or the partial character area merely by conducting the    simple operations.-   (2) According to the image processing apparatus embodied in the    present invention as SECOND EMBODIMENT, it becomes possible to    determine the pages being suitable for applying the predetermined    image processing, while alleviating the burden to be incurred to the    user.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed using specific term, such description is for illustrativepurpose only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising: an image data acquiringsection to acquire image data representing an original image; adetecting section to detect a partial image area and a partial characterarea, both of which are included in the original image, based on theimage data outputted by the image data acquiring section; and a controlsection to apply image processing, including a variable powerprocessing, to both the partial image area and the partial characterarea by employing a first variable magnification factor and a secondvariable magnification factor, which are different from each other,respectively, so as to generate a size-changed partial image area and asize-changed partial character area, and to arrange both thesize-changed partial image area and the size-changed partial characterarea into a predetermined imaginary area being smaller than an area ofthe original image, so as to accommodate them within the predeterminedimaginary area.
 2. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe control section applies the variable power processing to any one ofthe partial image area and the partial character area by employing apredetermined variable magnification factor so as to arrange thesize-changed one into the imaginary area, while applies the variablepower processing to another one of the partial image area and thepartial character area by employing such a specific variablemagnification factor that makes it possible to accommodate the othersize-changed one within a residual area remained in the imaginary area.3. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controlsection applies an integration print processing, included in the imageprocessing, to plural pages included in the original image so as tointegrate the plural pages into a single page; and wherein the controlsection applies the variable power processing, included in the imageprocessing, to both the partial image area and the partial characterarea by employing the first variable magnification factor and the secondvariable magnification factor, which are different from each other, toarrange both the size-changed partial image area and the size-changedpartial character area into the predetermined imaginary area being sameas an area of the single page.
 4. The image processing apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the first variable magnification factor to be employedfor changing a size of the partial image area is greater than the secondvariable magnification factor to be employed for changing a size of thepartial character area.
 5. The image processing apparatus of claim 1,wherein the control section sets the first variable magnification factorat 100%.
 6. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein thesecond variable magnification factor to be employed for changing a sizeof the partial character area is greater than the first variablemagnification factor to be employed for changing a size of the partialimage area.
 7. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecontrol section sets the second variable magnification factor at 100%.8. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein, in the imageprocessing, the control section divides the partial character area intoa plurality of character blocks, each of which includes a plurality ofconsecutive characters, and then, applies the variable power processingto each of the plurality of character blocks so as to generate aplurality of size-changed character blocks, and then, arranges theplurality of size-changed character blocks within a residual arearemained after arranging the size-changed partial image area in theimaginary area.
 9. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein,in the image processing, the control section divides the partialcharacter area into a plurality of character images, each of whichrepresents each of characters included in the partial character area, toapply the variable power processing to each of the plurality ofcharacter images so as to generate a plurality of size-changed characterimages, and then, arranges the plurality of size-changed characterimages within a residual area remained after arranging the size-changedpartial image area into the imaginary area.
 10. The image processingapparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a selecting section to accepta selecting operation for selecting any one of the partial image areaand the partial character area, to which a priority is to be given byoverriding the other one; wherein the control section changes the firstvariable magnification factor and the second variable magnificationfactor respectively and independently from each other, corresponding toa priority order of them, determined as a result of the selectingoperation accepted by the selecting section.
 11. The image processingapparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an operating section to acceptoperations for establishing setting items in regard to a printingoperation based on the original image and for inputting an upper limitof money amount to be charged for the printing operation; wherein thecontrol section compares the upper limit of money amount, inputted fromthe operating section, with a charged fee to be actually charged whenthe printing operation is implemented according to the setting itemsestablished from the operating section, so as to perform the imageprocessing when the charged fee exceeds the upper limit of money amount.12. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controlsection perform the image processing when a residual amount of printingagent, to be used for a printing operation based on the original image,is lower than a predetermined lower limit of the printing agent.
 13. Animage processing apparatus, comprising: an image data acquiring sectionto acquire image data representing an original image; a detectingsection to detect attributes of each of pages included in the originalimage represented by the image data acquired by the image data acquiringsection; and a control section to determine specific pages, beingsuitable for applying a predetermined image processing, among the pagesincluded in the original image, based on the attributes detected by thedetecting section, so as to apply the predetermined image processing tothe specific pages.
 14. The image processing apparatus of claim 13,wherein the control section also determines a priority order of thespecific pages to which the predetermined image processing is to beapplied, based on the attributes detected by the detecting section. 15.The image processing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the attributesinclude plural kinds of attributes, and the priority order is determinedby weighting each of the plural kinds of attributes corresponding tocontents of the predetermined image processing.
 16. The image processingapparatus of claim 13, wherein, when applying the predetermined imageprocessing to the specific pages as a single set of processing objects,the control section employs a combination of the attributes in regard toeach of the specific pages as one of criteria for determining thespecific pages.
 17. The image processing apparatus of claim 13, whereinthe attributes includes at least one of a size of characters residing ona page serving as one of the pages, a size of a partial image arearesiding on the page concerned, a kind of the partial image arearesiding on the page concerned, a kind of color used for the pageconcerned and a density of whole image itself included in the pageconcerned.
 18. The image processing apparatus of claim 13, furthercomprising: an operating section to accept operations for establishingsetting items in regard to a printing operation based on the originalimage and for inputting an upper limit of money amount to be charged forthe printing operation; wherein the control section compares the upperlimit of money amount, inputted from the operating section, with acharged fee to be actually charged when the printing operation isimplemented according to the setting items established from theoperating section, so as to apply the predetermined image processing,which makes it possible to reduce the charged fee, to the specific pagesdetermined in advance, when the charged fee exceeds the upper limit ofmoney amount.
 19. The image processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein,when a residual amount of printing agent, to be used for a printingoperation based on the original image, is lower than a predeterminedlower limit of the printing agent, the control section apply thepredetermined image processing, which makes it possible to reduce aconsuming amount of the printing agent to a level lower than that in anormal printing operation, to the specific pages determined in advance.20. The image processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controlsection applies an integration print processing, serving as thepredetermined image processing in which the specific pages areintegrated and printed into a single page area, to the specific pages.21. The image processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controlsection applies a duplex print processing, serving as the predeterminedimage processing in which a single pair or plural pairs of the specificpages are respectively printed onto both sides of a single paper sheetor plural paper sheets, to the specific pages.
 22. The image processingapparatus of claim 13, wherein the control section applies such an imageprocessing, serving as the predetermined image processing, that makes itpossible to reduce a consuming amount of printing agent to a level lowerthan that in a normal printing operation, to the specific pages.